Japanese Art and Nature to Magical Village
Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
Kubota Beisen (1852–1906) was born in the final years of the Edo Period. As a result, his early artistic development—though influenced by the shifting currents of the Meiji Period (1868–1912)—remained rooted in the formative experiences of his youth during the Edo era.
He began his artistic training under Suzuki Hyakunen (1825–1891), though his father—an innkeeper—was initially opposed to his pursuit of art. Nevertheless, Beisen’s passion prevailed. Despite receiving guidance from both Suzuki Hyakunen and Kōno Bairei (1844–1895), he was largely self-taught.
Hishida Shunsō (art above) was born amid the vibrant stirrings of the Meiji era (1868–1912), a time of sweeping transformation in Japan. Though the era itself was brief in the span of history, Shunsō’s life was briefer still. He passed away in 1911, just shy of his 37th birthday, never living to see the close of the age that had shaped him.
Born in 1874 in the quiet surrounds of Nagano Prefecture, Shunsō moved to Tokyo in 1889. One can only imagine the contrast—the hushed rhythms of the countryside giving way to the pulsing energy of the capital. Yet it was in Tokyo, amidst the tide of modernity and artistic reinvention, that he found new inspiration and mingled with circles that would help define his creative path.
The contemporary artist Sawako Utsumi (art above) holds a deep reverence for the work of Kamisaka Sekka (1866–1942), drawing inspiration from his timeless elegance. Yet, while she pays quiet homage to his legacy, her palette sings in a voice entirely her own—bold, evocative, and unmistakably distinct.
Sawako Utsumi conjures a magical village, one that drifts gently into the dreamscapes of children—and of adults who still resist the weight of the world. In this enchanting work, warmth radiates from every corner, offering a breath of freshness and a quiet spark of inspiration.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-magical-mountain-village-inspired-by-sekka-sawako-utsumi.html Mountain Village by Sawako Utsumi (Homage to Kamisaka Sekka)
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sawako-utsumi.html – Sawako Utsumi and where you can buy her art, postcards, bags, and other products. Also, individuals can contact her for individual requests.
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