Balloon Flowers in a Basket

Maker(s)
Artist: Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, early 18th century
Medium
Color and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 18.4 x 15 cm (7 1/4 x 5 7/8 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1911.318
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Fan

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), flower, Japan
Provenance

To 1911
Shinsuke Hayashi, Kyoto, to 1911 [1]

From 1911 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Shinsuke Hayashi in 1911 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 898, pg. 291, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Shinsuke Hayashi (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Label

The artist Ogata Kenzan is best known for his ceramic works, but his artistic interests also included painting and calligraphy. This folding fan was painted by Kenzan with a basket of balloon flowers on a gold-leafed background. Kenzan's inscription and red seal mark appear at the right. The back of the fan is inscribed with a poem. 

Published References
  • Zaigai hiho [(Japanese Paintings in Western Collections]. 3 vols., Tokyo. vol. 1: pt. II, p. 82, vol. 1, pt. I, pl. 62.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Thomas Lawton, Harold P. Stern. The Freer Gallery of Art. 2 vols., Washington and Tokyo, 1971-1972. cat. 51, vol. 2: p. 168.
  • Kenzan no kaiga [The paintings of Kenzan (1663-1743)]. Exh. cat. Tokyo, October 29 - November 28, 1982. p. 36.
  • Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Art: Freer Gallery of Art handbook. Washington, 1976. p. 133.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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