Ogata Gekko: Tea Ceremony (Chadô) 茶道 (SOLD)

Artist: Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920)
Title: Tea Ceremony (Chadô) 茶道 Series: Women’s Customs and Manners 婦人風俗尽

A woman crouches low in order to enter the small door of a traditional Japanese teahouse; her two companions wait with clasped hands on the stone steps behind her. This is from what must certainly be the first, earliest edition–the color palette is very subtle and serene, matching the formal energy of the tea ceremony, and the bokashi and printing is very carefully presented. The colors are perfecty unfaded, as we can see from the red and purple peeking out as the lining on the kimono of the two young women. There is also blindprinting (gauffrauge) on the cartouche as well as on the white collars of the two ladies at left. Included at the bottom of the title cartouche we see a tea caddy and matcha spoon, as well as a bowl with a tea whisk. Even the publisher’s information has been printed in a soft pink, so as not to impinge on the delicacy of the printing. Note the stone lantern at right and the stone basin with a ladle, below.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Essentially mint for a work from the 19th century. Untrimmed, unbacked and very clean.

Dimensions: ôban (36.8 x 25 cm)

Signature: Gekko  Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi

SKU: GET014