Japanese Maple and Autumn Plants

A stately maple tree stands on the right, adorned with colorful red leaves on the branches above and near the roots. On the ground, suggested by the subtle greyish trace of a pool of ink, are typical autumn plants: Maiden Flower, or ominaeshi, chrysanthemum, or kiku, thorned vine with red fruit, and a single fallen ginko leaf.

Simple, dramatic arrangements of natural motifs and innovative arrangements of color are hallmarks of the style of Japanese art that has been known since the late nineteenth century as Rimpa. As in this painting, Rimpa artists paid close attention to the visual contrast of natural motifs to open space and of brilliant applications of color with clear, sharp contours to softer gradations of tone produced by color and ink washes. The artist Sakai Oho was adopted as a successor to the painter Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828). Hoitsu's study and publication of designs by the brothers Ogata Korin (1658-1716) and Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743) were instrumental in reviving interest in these artists and in the Rimpa style of painting and design in the nineteenth century.

Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Bold and Beautiful: Rinpa in Japanese Art (June 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016)

Artists of Edo (November 19, 2005 to May 29, 2006)

More Than Flowers: Sources of Tradition in Japanese Painting (September 2, 2001 to November 24, 2002)

Autumn Colors (October 19 to December 20, 1984)

Japanese Art—Autumn Voices (October 14, 1981 to December 16, 1981)

Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)