Ogata Gekko
Encyclopedia
Woodblock printing in Japan
Woodblock printing in Japan is a technique best known for its use in the ukiyo-e artistic genre; however, it was also used very widely for printing books in the same period. Woodblock printing had been used in China for centuries to print books, long before the advent of movable type, but was only...
artist of the ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e
' is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters...
genre.
Gekkō's work was originally closely based upon that of Kikuchi Yōsai; an he was inspired by Hokusai
Hokusai
was a Japanese artist, ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He was influenced by such painters as Sesshu, and other styles of Chinese painting...
, creating a series of one hundred prints of Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
. However, he did develop his own style, with significant stylistic elements from nihonga
Nihonga
or literally "Japanese-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings that have been made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials...
.
Career
Gekkō's works were exhibited at a number of exhibitions, both those held domestically by the Ministry of EducationMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
and internationally.
Gekko's artwork was presented at the Chicago in 1893
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
, at the Paris in 1900
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
, and at the London in 1910
Japan-British Exhibition (1910)
The took place at White City, London in Great Britain from 14 May 1910 to 29 October 1910. It was the largest international exposition that the Empire of Japan had participated in to date, and was driven by a desire of Japan to develop a more favorable public image in Great Britain following the...
.
War artist
Gekkō was among the artists whose artwork informed the Japanese populace about the progress of naval and land war known today as the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
of 1894-1895. A number of Gekko's war images were published in Seishin Bidan by Yokoyama Ryohachi.
An impression of the Haiyang Island (Kaiyoto) Naval Battle in 1894 was prepared in a large-scale quadruptich format.
Among the widely circulated Sino-Japanese tryptich images of the war which were created by Gekkō include:
- Japanese Officers and Soldiers Fight Bravely at Fenghuangcheng
- The Japanese First Army Advances Toward Mukden
- The Japanese Navy Victorious Off Takushan
- Captain Osawa and Six Others From the Warship Yaeyama Close in on Yungcheng Bay
- Presenting a Portentous Eagle to the Emperor
- Popular Viewing of the Captured Chinese Warship Chenyuen
- Japanese and Chinese Dignitaries Accomplish Their Missions in Successfully Concluding a Peace Treaty
Selected works
Ogata Gekkō's published work is encompassed 46 works in 48 publications in 2 languages and 68 library holdings.- 1905 — 夢の三郎 (Yume no Saburō) OCLC 229891974
- 1898 — 月耕画園 (Gekko gaen) OCLC 225836025
- 1895 — 以呂波引月耕漫画 (Irohabiki Gekkō manga) OCLC 046354614
- 1885 — 新說小簾の月 (Shinsetsu osu no tsuki) OCLC 033798610