Bamboo | Yamamoto Baiitsu 山本梅逸 | 1783-1856

Yamamoto Baiitsu was unfortunate enough not to grow up in one of the big centers such as Edo (Tokyo), Kyoto or Osaka. He lived mainly in Nagoya, which was not a very culturally vibrant city at the time. But Baiitsu was lucky enough to know a wealthy dealer who had a large collection of Chinese art. He let the talented painter study his art collection, and so Baiitsu was able to compensate well for the lack of living in the art province. His profound engagement with Chinese painting of the Ming and Ching periods can be felt in almost all of his pictures.

This bamboo study could be a Chinese work, as the way the empty space is handled does not seem Japanese. And the small boulder at the base is reminiscent of the ornamental rocks you find in Chinese gardens. But these comments are in no way intended to portray the picture as an epigone. Baiitsu was a very strong painterly personality who remained true to himself down to the last detail.  The variety of black and grey tones in the bamboo leaves is rich, and the rhythm of compression and looseness exudes naturalness. No part seems to have been painted in a routine manner; artistic decision and care are evident everywhere. The mounting of the picture is original. The yellow of the silk is strongly reminiscent of Chinese mountings of the 18th century.  Signature and seal are convincing.