Ogata Gekko (1859-1920)

Ogata Gekkō, born Tai Masanosuke in Edo (Tokyo), emerged as a prominent ukiyo-e artist during the Meiji period and played a significant role in the Meiji Fine Art Society. Despite being orphaned, Gekkō potentially found himself under the influence of Ogata Korin's lineage, renowned for their work in ceramics, textiles, and lacquerware. While some speculate Gekkō's guidance under Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, it's widely believed he was self-taught in various artistic mediums, including drawing, Japanese-style painting, and printmaking.

Initially, Gekkō's career encompassed decoration for lacquerware and pottery, as well as illustrating books and newspapers. This diverse background allowed him to develop a distinctive style when he transitioned to printmaking. However, his unconventional approach, resembling watercolour and oil paintings rather than traditional ukiyo-e prints, posed challenges for artisans accustomed to clearer lines and colour separation.

Gekkō's versatility as an artist extended to war correspondence during the Sino-Japanese conflict, where he accompanied troops to battlefields, capturing scenes that he later transformed into prints. Beyond war themes, his repertoire included landscapes, beautiful women, animals, and family scenes. Notably, his series "Beauties at Famous Places" and "Gekko's One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji" garnered acclaim, with the latter earning him a gold medal at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, cementing his legacy as a distinguished artist of his era.