Ogata Kōrin, born in Kyōto in 1658 and died on June 2, 1716, was a renowned Japanese painter and lacquer artist. Kōrin is considered one of the most important representatives of the Japanese Rinpa art movement, and many of his works have been recognized by the Japanese government as national treasures or important cultural objects. Kōrin was the son of the wealthy cloth merchant Ogata Soken, whose business Kariganeya maintained close ties with the imperial family and the high aristocracy of Kyōto. In his youth, Kōrin led an extravagant lifestyle. He learned painting from Yamamoto Sōken, Kano Tsunenobu and Sumiyoshi Gukei, but was forced to earn a living as a professional artist only after the decline of his father's business.
Kōrin developed a decorative style characterized by a few, highly stylized forms, rejecting both a realistic mode of representation and the usual conventions of the Kanō school. He was strongly influenced by his predecessors, Hon'ami Koetsu, known mainly as a calligrapher and lacquer artist, and Tawaraya Sotatsu, a painter. Together with his younger brother Ogata Kenzan, a ceramic artist and painter, Kōrin worked on numerous works. In lacquer work, Kōrin often used white metals and mother-of-pearl, following Kōetsu's example. The term Rinpa comes from the second character of Kōrin's name and literally means "Rin School."
In 1701, at the age of 43, Kōrin was given the rank of hokkyō ("dharma bridge"). He died at the age of 59. Among his most important students were Tatebayashi Kagei, Fukae Roshu, and Watanabe Shiko. However, today's knowledge and admiration of his work is largely due to the efforts of Sakai Hoitsu, who revived Kōrin's style in the early 19th century and published a collection of woodblock reproductions of 100 of Kōrin's works, Kōrin hyakka-zu.
Interestingly, the golden backgrounds on Kano Tsunenobu0's paintings are said to have been inspired by Ogata Kōrin. This is a striking example of how artworks and artists can be influential across cultural and geographical boundaries, and how artworks from the past can inspire modern and contemporary artists. Kōrin's legacy lives on in the many works that can be found today in museums and collections around the world. His unique artistic vision and contribution to the Rinpa School of Japanese
Ogata Kōrin, born in Kyōto in 1658 and died on June 2, 1716, was a renowned Japanese painter and lacquer artist. Kōrin is considered one of the most important representatives of the Japanese Rinpa art movement, and many of his works have been recognized by the Japanese government as national treasures or important cultural objects. Kōrin was the son of the wealthy cloth merchant Ogata Soken, whose business Kariganeya maintained close ties with the imperial family and the high aristocracy of Kyōto. In his youth, Kōrin led an extravagant lifestyle. He learned painting from Yamamoto Sōken, Kano Tsunenobu and Sumiyoshi Gukei, but was forced to earn a living as a professional artist only after the decline of his father's business.
Kōrin developed a decorative style characterized by a few, highly stylized forms, rejecting both a realistic mode of representation and the usual conventions of the Kanō school. He was strongly influenced by his predecessors, Hon'ami Koetsu, known mainly as a calligrapher and lacquer artist, and Tawaraya Sotatsu, a painter. Together with his younger brother Ogata Kenzan, a ceramic artist and painter, Kōrin worked on numerous works. In lacquer work, Kōrin often used white metals and mother-of-pearl, following Kōetsu's example. The term Rinpa comes from the second character of Kōrin's name and literally means "Rin School."
In 1701, at the age of 43, Kōrin was given the rank of hokkyō ("dharma bridge"). He died at the age of 59. Among his most important students were Tatebayashi Kagei, Fukae Roshu, and Watanabe Shiko. However, today's knowledge and admiration of his work is largely due to the efforts of Sakai Hoitsu, who revived Kōrin's style in the early 19th century and published a collection of woodblock reproductions of 100 of Kōrin's works, Kōrin hyakka-zu.
Interestingly, the golden backgrounds on Kano Tsunenobu0's paintings are said to have been inspired by Ogata Kōrin. This is a striking example of how artworks and artists can be influential across cultural and geographical boundaries, and how artworks from the past can inspire modern and contemporary artists. Kōrin's legacy lives on in the many works that can be found today in museums and collections around the world. His unique artistic vision and contribution to the Rinpa School of Japanese
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