Okuhara Seiko: A Female Nanga Painter Who Gained Much Popularity in the Early Meiji Period

Okuhara Seiko

Okuhara Seiko (1837-1913), a spirited female painter, studied the painting style of the North-South Combinatorial School under Hirata Suiseki, a pupil of Tani Bunchō, and expanded her range of paintings by imitating Ming and Qing paintings. In particular, she was strongly influenced by Hi Seiko (a Chinese painters who came to Japan) and took the name of “Seiko.” In the Meiji era, she devoted herself to Zheng Xie (a painter and calligrapher of the Qing dynasty) and her painting style also became full of spirits like the style of Zheng Xie. In 1871, She opened the “Bokuto en-unrō,” a painting studio, and at one time she had 300 students. Sugawara Hakuryū also learned there. Seiko changed her hair style to “Zangiri (cropped hair)” following a boy, in 1872, she was subjected to the control of Zangiri women, but she got special permission. She was widely associated with distinguished persons in the new government, in 1873, she was admired together with Yasuda Rōzan, who returned from China, she was also designated as one of the two most popular literary painters of the early Meiji period, and it is said that she had many customers. In 1874, She formed “Hankansha” with Kawakami Tōgai and others who had a close relationship with Seiko, and they made efforts for the prosperity of literary paintings. During the heyday of literary paintings in the early Meiji era, Seiko demonstrated a great fashion painter. However, after the literary paintings were criticized in a speech by Ernest Fenollosa in 1882, the reactionary period started, and the popularity of literary paintings fell. In addition, the Bokuto en-unrō was removed due to the construction of the railway, and her health broke down and retired to Kumagaya in 1891.

Flowers and Birds Paintings

Flowers and Birds Paintings by Okuhara Seiko

This Flowers and Birds Painting also represents the style of Zheng Xie. Pomegranates, confederate flowers, magnolias, lilies, and other plants are painted with a rough and vigorous brush stroke, but this picture is accented with gorgeous colors in key places, and the overall effect is full of rich and powerful. Those were reasons why her pictures were loved by young men. This work was done in 1873.

Contact Us

Please fill out the form below and submit for your inquiry.

❈FirstName
❈LastName
Country
❈E-mail
（❈Confirm E-mail）
❈Inquiry category Question
Consultation
Impression
Request
Others
❈Comment

❈ is the mark for required item.

   

Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting your privacy.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)

CEO Message

Our Feelings For Kakejiku

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)
Company Profile
syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

Name Art Nomura

President Tatsuji Nomura

Founded1973

Established1992

Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan


Capital10 million yen

URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com

Our Business

 Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.


(or press ESC or click the overlay)
Access Map

Access Map

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)