JAPANESE MIND Honoring the By Joe Price Photos: Etsuko & Joe Price Collection Cranes drawn on a folding screen, each with a single, flawless brush A pair of ducks in a snowy pond stroke ome believe he may be the greatest seems to defy the realms of possibility. and focused, and with feet that are S artist the world has ever seen. His Despite all this, until recently, very few firmly planted under the weight of the skill is incomprehensible. His talent people even knew his name. body. He could paint a duck with its His name is Ito Jakuchu. Born head buried under water and still give almost 300 years ago, he is an artist it life and expression. He could paint who could paint with meticulous a screen composed of 46,000 detail. At the same time, he could squares and create animals create the body of a crane with a composed of these squares within single, flawless brush stroke. With squares, while still giving each amazing accuracy, he played with a character a distinct personality. variety of colors and shapes without Jakuchu died in 1800, but much, seeming to overlap a single line. much more seemed to die with him Jakuchu commanded a love and that year because from that moment admiration of nature that enabled him on, a void was left in the art field. But to capture what seems to be the this is just my opinion – the opinion essence of life. It almost seems like of a simple-minded engineer from he was driven by something Bartlesville, Oklahoma, with much more than just absolutely no formal training in art. skill. He possessed My love of Japanese Edo Period art, an intense however, is not limited to just knowledge and Jakuchu. My admiration stems from understanding of the extraordinary and unique genius his subjects. expressed in the works of this period. Jakuchu could Maruyama Okyo, Nagasawa Rosetsu, paint a rooster Soga Shohaku, Mori Sosen, Sakai with every feather Hoitsu, and Suzuki Kiitsu are just A rooster with every feather perfectly in perfectly in place, some of the artists that deserve place with eyes that are alert international attention for their 40 JAPAN SPOTLIGHT • January / February 2007 JAPANESE MIND Photos: Etsuko & Joe Price Collection Animals and nature painted on a folding screen, composed of 46,000 squares remarkable abilities. One way to paintings and used them to their showcase their extraordinary talents advantage. is to make a comparison to a The irony today is that these artists legendary Western artist. Claude created their works to be seen under Monet painted many individual varying sources of light, except for masterpieces of haystacks – some the one source they had never seen or haystacks in the fresh light of experienced for themselves and the morning and some in the faint light of only source universally used today in evening. Each work illustrated museums around the world – fixed opposing and distinct reflections of electric light. These harsh lights light. Monet was fascinated by these hinder the ability to see these differences and painted each painting amazing variations in Edo paintings. to showcase different variations. To truly enjoy this art at its best, see it On the other hand, the Edo Period the way the artist intended. See the artist learned to capture these diverse art illuminated by soft, natural sensations of light within one changing light without obstruction painting. When a cloud covers the from protective glass. sun, casting a shadow across the These masterpieces are some of the room, a painting can appear to best in the world, and should be seen transition from morning to afternoon at their finest. These magnificent to dusk. Japanese artists were very artists should have their voices heard, A temple painting in daylight and moonlight: Japanese aritsts were very aware of the aware of these effects upon their and the people should listen. effects of light. Joe Price, a graduate of the Oklahoma University School of Engineering, worked in the construction industry until 1980, when he moved to California and formed the Shin’enKan Foundation in Los Angeles, focused mainly on the education and appreciation of Edo Period Japanese paintings. An exhibition titled “Jakuchu and the Age of Imagination” was staged at the Tokyo National Museum in July-August 2006, drawing 317,000 visitors. On October 3, 2006, Price received the Japan Award from the Japan Foundation. JAPAN SPOTLIGHT • January / February 2007 41.