Gekko's Essays - Begun in 1886, "Gekko's Essays" (Zuihitsu) is a wonderful series encompassing a wide range of subjects. Gekko depicts figures from history and mythology, including famous beauties, poets, scholars, and warriors, along with a few supernatural creatures. These handsome designs are rendered in Gekko's distinctive painterly style, with soft washes of color and flowing calligraphic line work, expertly printed by Matsuki Heikichi to capture these qualities. The series was completed by 1887, but woodblocks are found with dates up to 1899, proving the popularity of the designs, which continued to be printed. A great choice to collect or display.

Sugawara no Michizane Praying atop Mt. Tempai - Dramatic scene from the life of the great scholar Sugawara no Michizane, who became a high-ranking minister to the emperor. Falsely accused of plotting to seize power, Sugawara was exiled and ended his last years writing poems in calligraphy. This fantastic image shows Sugawara praying on Mount Tempai in Kyushu during his exile, evoking a thunderstorm. Kneeling on a rocky ledge, he clasps his hands together over his head, holding a slender bamboo pole, looking down as a storm rages about him. An enormous bolt of yellow-orange lightening shoots across the rain-streaked sky, illuminating the night in a dynamic diagonal. A terrific composition detailed with fine bokashi shading in the sky and delicate embossing in the white robe.

Artist - Gekko (1859 - 1920)

Image Size - 12 7/8" x 8 1/2" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Faint stain at bottom left corner in margin. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.