Japan Art and Ogata Gekko: Animals and Mount Fuji
Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
![](http://moderntokyotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ogata-Gekko-monkeys-mount-fuji-1900.jpg)
Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920) witnessed the enormous convulsions of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). However, despite Gekkō depicting aspects of modernization, his world was focused on art.
In the first art piece, the fusion of Mount Fuji, monkeys, and the stunning landscape works a treat. The snow-capped Mount Fuji provides a sense of continuity where the spirits of Shinto can dwell.
![](http://moderntokyotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ogata-Gekko-deer-on-a-bridge.jpg)
In the next art piece, deer are relaxing on a lovely bridge. Once more, the landscape looks stunning – and the deer complete the feeling of serenity.
The Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum of Art says, “Ogata Gekko (1859-1920) was active as an artist from the Meiji to Taisho periods. Gekko did not have a teacher and learned his artistry on his own, but produced a great number of oshi-e fabric pictures and woodblock prints, and is representative of the popular artists of the age. His subject matter was wide and far-ranging and included Edo and Meiji landscapes, figure prints and ancient legends; his works appealed to many people of the age with their rich expressiveness—from delicate and sensitive flowers and beautiful women to powerful heroes.”
![](http://moderntokyotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ogata-Gekko-running-horse-1890-1900.jpg)
In the last art piece, the horse looks free and is running with gay abandon and enjoying life. Indeed, the horse – similar to the artist Gekkō – is free from the constraints of life.
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