Fleas

Artist Kawamura Kho (Japanese, 1778–1852)

Date19th century

Mediumhanging scroll, ink and light color on paper

Dimensionsimage: 91.9 x 29 cm (36 3/16 x 11 7/16 in.)
mount: 165 x 40.5 cm (64 15/16 x 15 15/16 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineAlexander H. Bullock Fund

Terms

Object number1995.64

Label TextThe leading pupil of Kawamura Bumpo (1779-1821), one of the great stylists of the Shijo school of painters, Kiho's reputation is founded largely on woodblock printed books such as Kiho gafu, 1827. Kyoto's Shijo school painters combined the Nanga style, based on the Chinese self-expressive painting tradition, with the naturalism of Maruyama Okyo (1733-95) and the Maruyama School of painting. This painting with its Chinese figures and settings is more heavily dependent of the former style. The painting's consciously inelegant theme injects humor with its homely subject and the Chinese scholar's strangeness. The brushwork is free and playful with expressive washes and quirky line. Although its style derives from that of the artist’s more famous teacher, Kiho was an important artist in his own right.ProvenanceIsrael Goldman, London, England

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