Mitsui Fine Arts
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • EXHIBITION
  • ARTWORKS
  • OBSESSION
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
LinkedIn, opens in a new tab.
Artsy, opens in a new tab.
Cart
0 items $
Checkout

Item added to cart

View cart & checkout
Continue shopping
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
LinkedIn, opens in a new tab.
Artsy, opens in a new tab.
Menu
ARTWORKS
  • ARTWORKS
  • ARTWORKS
  • ARTWORKS
Gessan Ogata, kusudama, 1928
Gessan Ogata, kusudama, 1928
Gessan Ogata, kusudama, 1928
Gessan Ogata, kusudama, 1928

Gessan Ogata

kusudama, 1928
sumi and colors on paper
45 1/4” X 11 7/8” ; scroll, 79” X 13”
Gessan Ogata, kusudama, 1928
Sold
$ 600.00
0 in cart
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EGessan%20Ogata%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3Ekusudama%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1928%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esumi%20and%20colors%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E45%201/4%E2%80%9D%20%20X%20%2011%207/8%E2%80%9D%20%20%3B%20scroll%2C%2079%E2%80%9D%20%20X%20%2013%E2%80%9D%3C/div%3E

Further images

  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 1) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 2) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 3) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 4) Thumbnail of additional image
A Kusudama is a decorative object dropped from the ceiling, although here its likeness is depicted in a scroll. Originally, as its name 薬玉 (ball of medicinal herb) suggests, it...
Read more
A Kusudama is a decorative object dropped from the ceiling, although here its likeness is depicted in a scroll. Originally, as its name 薬玉 (ball of medicinal herb) suggests, it took the form of a bundle of herbs tied with thread that were used to ward off sickness and evil. Although ribbons, bows, and other colorful elements were eventually woven in to Kusudama, they remain little more than decorative objects. In this work, Gessan painted the decoration often found on “boy’s day” (may 5th) to pray for and celebrate boys’ healthy growth.

Gessen saw an otherwise lifeless object and painted it full of life, making it sway ever so slightly to the left as if a faint breeze provided a gentle nudge. Only an artist trained in the Ukiyo-e tradition, of a colorful, floating world of geishas and courtesans, could make this dry ornament so subtly seductive.

About the Artist

Ogota Gessan (1887 - 1967) is a son of the Ukiyo-e artist, Ogata Gekko (1859 - 1920).  
Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
Previous
|
Next
30 
of 141
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2021 Mitsui Fine Arts
Site by Artlogic
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Artsy, opens in a new tab.
Send an email