Stockton 1 In the Edo period in Japan the tea ceremony became the basis by which literary and artistic

traditions were based upon. When porcelain was developed by the Japanese it created a new filter by which artwork was created in cities such as Koto. It was during the Edo period that a distinct style of painting became present which can be very much attributed to the creation of porcelain. One artist who became highly proficient in this style of this art in his youth was Ogata Korin. Ogata Korin a Japanese artist was born in Koto in 1657. Korin born to a wealthy merchant who had a taste for art immediately began his sons training in the fine field of artwork. From elementary school Korin began studying under Soken Yamamoto at the Kano school but this wouldnt be Korins only teacher he would also go on to study under Tsunenobu and Gukei Sumiyoshi. Korin however was not only influenced by his teachers he was also greatly influenced by the artist who came before him specifically Honami Koetsu and Tawaraya Sotatsu. Once Korin became an adult he broke away from the traditional still of painting that he had been taught by his teachers and went to develop a style completely his own with both his use of paint and lacquer. His new style was that of bold impressionism through the use of simple forms completely disregarding realism and the techniques typical used in his time. Along with being an extremely proficient artist Korin was also a teacher and Korins students included Kagei Tatebashi and Shiko Watanable. However it would not be his students who carry on Korins unique still it would be Hoitsu Sakai another artist who would revive Korins unique still allowing it to be appreciated in the future. An example of this unique style at its best is Korins famous artwork White Plum Blossoms.

Stockton 2 `Korin extremely well known for his lacquer work and paintings on screens created the artwork White Plum Blossoms. Ogata Korin also used elements of gold which were used in tea ceremonies in many of his artworks and that is present in his artwork White Plum Blossoms. White Plum Blossoms which is known as Korins greatest work is a two part folding screen and White Plum Blossoms is just one part of the screen the other part represent red plum blossoms. Against the gold background the white plum blossoms trunk is meant to give the illusion that it extends beyond the screen while the red blossoms trunk is confined to the space allotted by the screen. The white plum blossom part of the screen is also very ridged and shows the age of the tree unlike the red blossoms trunk. The river which is in the center of the screen uses a pattern design and widens out at the bottom of the screen as it goes through both parts of this artwork. In this artwork Korin also use many contrasts to bring about emotions. Korin contrasts light and dark by using black ink on the gold background, stillness and movement by putting together the stillness of the tree with the movement of the river and realism and patterns. Together this creates an incredible artwork which gives both a sense of rhythm while at the same time creating tension. Sense its creation White Plum Blossoms has been rediscovered as a national treasure for the Japanese. Recently White Plum Blossoms has been put under the microscope by scientists who have dubbed Ogata Korin a genius and are trying to discover all the secrets of Korins unique technique and revel how much of a genus Korin really was. What he scientist discovered was the there is far more than meets the eye with this spectacular artwork Korin uses methods never used before his time and that is what makes White Plum Blossoms such a spectacular piece. From Korin other artists were

Stockton 3 inspired just in the same way he was inspired by Honami Koetsu and Tawaraya Sotatsu in his youth. Breeding a whole new generation of artist whose works we were able to appreciate because of Korin.