Fukae Roshu’s Mountain Path at Utsu and Ike Taiga’s Autumn Festival are both Japanese screen paintings from the Edo Period, however, stylistically, these two paintings are, to a large degree, quite different. This paper will specifically address the differences in composition, use of color, brush work and discuss the impact of combining text with imagery.
In terms of the historical and cultural context, Roshu’s Mountain Path at Utsu is an example of a work from the Rimpa School, also known as the decorative school. The art of Rimpa started in Kyoto, Japan where the Imperial court and merchants commissioned works of art. During this time, the merchant class was gaining more recognition and power while recovering from the blow of the civil war. The stylistic aspects of the screen painting can be attributed to two important figures, Sotatsu and Korin. Though Sotatsu’s works often had a classical theme associated with them, he made…show more content… This school dates back to the late seventeenth century, when a book titled “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden” introduced Chinese painting styles to the Japanese. It was around this time, that “Chinese studies” became increasingly more important in Japan. The Nanga School art refers to the Southern painting style of China. While the North preferred detail and a sense of objectiveness, the South opted for a style that was more lucid, free and subjective. This school consisted of literati, intellectuals and other scholars, they refused to paint in one style or follow one school, as they believe in bunjinga, which is the “art of literary men.” Nanga School soon became associated with literati teachings and ideologies. Taiga was an important figure in the Nanga School, and was said to have combined the principles of this school with that of Japanese techniques. Interestingly enough, the Nanga School also consisted of Western