Yanagisawa Kien By Kirk Sandvig
The object presented here is a hanging scroll by Yanagisawa Kien during the mid-18th century of Japan’s Edo period, called Bamboo. Although you are unable to see the colors here, the scroll is made with a dyed indigo blue paper, and a pale green pigment for the bamboo. On the left side, Kien signs his name in gold, and displays his seals in red, creating a balance with the rather tranquil colors of the green leaves on a blue background. An interesting quality of this particular scroll is it’s dark blue background. This contrast of light on dark is starkly different from the typical dark on light that we normally see on this type of scroll, making this piece truly magnificent.
One of the more fascinating aspects about this work of art is that it was executed entirely by Kien’s fingers. Using both finger and nail, Kien was able to create similar pieces of art, bringing the Nanga (Southern School) style to Japan. Although finger painting did not reach popularity in China, the idea was able to spread to both Korea and Japan through the trading port of Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu. With the help of his student, Ike Taiga, Kien was able to solidify the style of Nanga, and spread it throughout Japan, as a popular form of art.
Kirk Sandvig, Art 260 Spring 2005