Birds, Thistle, and Bamboo (Translation)
花鳥図 江戶時代 大西圭斎筆 絹本着色 (Primary Title)
Onishi Keisai, Japanese, active early 19th century (Artist)
In this painting, Keisai depicts birds and botanical motifs in extremely intricate details, presenting a gentle, lyrical landscape. Born in Edo, today’s Tokyo, Keisai studied Chinese literati painting with Japanese Nanga-School masters. The Nanga, meaning “southern painting” is closely associated with the Japanese port of Nagasaki, where the Chinese painting style of Southern School was introduced to Japan through trading during the 18th century.
Nanga 南画
Nanga School
Edo period (1615-1868)
圭齋 Keisai
西允 Nishi'in, 叔明 Shukumei
丙寅春圭齋 (Spring of 1806, Keisai)
Gift of Judith K. and Philip D. Straffin, Jr.
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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