A person who looks far under the pine tree is drawn with a variety of paints in the center of the shape of nyoi-gashira pattern (pattern that imitates Buddhist equipment). Elaborate and elegant patterns are drawn around the center. On the outer surface, “bamboo and sparrow” and “peony flower” are drawn. The design is reminiscent of Japanese-style painting, and techniques of shading and blurring are skillfully used for the designs and patterns.

size; width about 17.9 cm, height about 7.2 cm

Pictures and patterns are drawn by various paints on the white body, and it is a deep expression like using vivid colors and blurs. Above all, the “pine tree”, which can be said to be the theme of this work is placed in the center, and this design is reminiscent of the pine tree often drawn by the Kano school.

A pattern with elegance is also drawn on the inside. This design is trying to make it look like a single pattern by connecting the folded strips in layers. It is drawn in a bright color that had never been seen in Sangetsu’s red and gold painting.

On the outer surface, “bamboo and sparrow” and “peony flower”, which are the themes of Japanese-style painting, are drawn. Taking advantage of the characteristics of Western paints, the sparrows are as pale as sumi-e, and the brocade pattern is richly drawn. This is the highlight in the work.

The back name is “加賀九谷／亀田画Kaga kutani / painted by Kameda”. It seems that the reason why he wrote “加賀Kaga” (it means Ishikawa prefecture) was simply to indicate the place of origin of this work (to distinguish from the Kano school’s activity area).

creator of work

Yamatsuki Kameda  亀田山月  born in 1844, dead in 1916.

In 1854, when Kameda was 11 years old, he became a student of the painting factory managed by Saita Isaburo and trained mainly in the technique of red painting, and then was independent in 1862 and started the porcelain painting business. His store name was called as Sangetsu (山月).

Even after becoming independent, it is said that he continued to study as a painter under Saita, and from around 1875 (Saita was dead in 1867), as the leader of the the factory, he held “15th Day meeting of Sano Painters” with the first Hashida Yosaburo and others. On the 15th of every month, he held a commentary meeting regarding the works made by group members, and leaded the younger painter to improve their skills. At the same time, he put a lot of effort into researching the development of Dokai’s vermilion.

In 1888, when he was 44 years old, he established another painting style by making the most of the painting style which he learned from Arakawa Tanrei. A new painting style seems to appear in his work “red and gold bowl with person under pine tree” (refer next work). So, it is said that he specialized in fine drawing using vermilion and brocade.

His disciples included Kameda Somatsu, Tamagawa　Seiemon, Tomita　Taromatsu, Kameda Gonjiro, etc.