Suzuki Kiitsu became an apprentice to Edo Rimpa school master Sakai Hōitsu, and eventually developed his own Rimpa style. His works have captivated art lovers such as Ernest Fenollosa and Charles Lang Freer, and were quickly introduced in museums abroad. Although famous in the United States as one of the foremost painters of the Rimpa school, the details and records of his life remain shrouded in mystery. What kind of painter was he? Here are some of his most famous paintings in a variety of styles, as well as some of his rarer works.

Gunkaku-zu Byōbu, A Group of Cranes Painting Folding Screen

Sakai Hōitsu copied Ogata Kōrin’s “Gunkaku-zu Byōbu, A Group of Cranes Painting Folding Screen”, and Suzuki Kiitsu copied it to continue the Rimpa school. The way he drew the beak and legs showed his originality. The above picture is the left screen.

Shiki Kachō-zu Byōbu, Four Seasons Flowers and Birds Painting Folding Screen

This is a subject that has been repeatedly depicted in ink painting and Yamato-e, but Kiitsu’s careful depiction and vivid colours express it in a gorgeous way.

Shells

This work, painted by Suzuki Kiichi in his late fifties, is based on the theme of shells. As was typical of the artist’s time, the brushstrokes are careful, yet light.

An Egret and a Willow Tree

The depiction of the egret and the willows looks like a still picture, but the gradation of the colours and the silhouette of the willows are repeated to express depth. Therein lies the unique worldview of the artist.

Selling Candy

Suzuki Kiitsu painted this ink painting in his mid-twenties, in which a peddler dressed as a Chinese merchant was accurately portrayed by the shading and blurring of the ink. The face was painted in great detail, demonstrating the artist’s skill.