In the early to mid 1890s Ogata Gekko published a print series “The Manners and Customs of Ladies“, of which this is print #5. This series does not seem to be as popularly available as his Flowers of Japan, Genji or Essays, yet is a compelling series with captivating images of bijin-ga.
Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival (亀戸天神社 藤まつり) is a traditional event held since Edo period, and it’s one of the most popular flower festivals in Tokyo during spring. Over 100 beautiful wisteria flowers bloom and hang at the historic Kameido Tenjin Shrine site, displaying elegant and peaceful scenery by the pond and the vermilion arch bridge. The festival is held for about 3 weeks from mid April to early May.
In this print a mother and daughter, each in incredibly luxurious kimono, are engaging with two of the koi in the pond of the shrine grounds, under beautifully hanging wisteria in bloom.
The Woodblock Print
This woodblock print is approximately 9″x13″ (Aiban) in excellent condition. Intact and clean margins and very strong color. A clean verso. Great details and excellent artistry in the figures. A rarely seen print and in exceptional condition.
About the Artist
Ogata Gekkō (尾形月耕, 1859-1920) was a Japanese artist best known as a painter and a designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. He was self-taught in art, won numerous national and international prizes, and was one of the earliest Japanese artists to win an international audience.
Gekkō was self-taught in art and began by decorating porcelain and rickshaws, and designing flyers for the pleasure quarters. Around 1881 he took the surname Ogata at the insistence of a descendant of the painter Ogata Kōrin. He soon was designing prints and illustrating books and newspapers. In 1886 Gekkō produced the print series Gekkō Zuihitsu (月耕随筆, “Gekkō’s Random Sketches”). In 1888, he married an art student of his, Tai Kiku, his second marriage, and changed his family name to Tai. The First Sino-Japanese War was the subject of a number of triptychs he designed in 1894–95. From the 1890s onward Gekkō won a number of art prizes, both national and international, one of the earliest Japanese artists to win international attention.
