2-740-148 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Selections from the New Collection of Japanese Poems from Ancient and Modern Times (Shinkokin wakashu) with Printed Designs of Chinese Lions and Crab Finger Grass (Meshishiba), early 1600s. Hon’ami Koetsu was a Japanese craftsman, potter, lacquerer, and calligrapher whose work is generally considered to have inspired the founding of the Rimpa school of painting. Tawaraya Sotatsu was a Japanese artist who co-founded the Rimpa school. He began his career as a fan painter in Kyoto and later rose to work for the court as a producer of fine, decorated papers for calligraphy. Seven verses from the autumn section of Shinkokin wakashu were transcribed onto 11 sheets of coloured paper printed in gold and silver, depicting a design featuring the Chinese lion ( karashishi ) and mehishiba grasses.