De onsterfelijke (sennin) Ôkyô
c. 1821 - c. 1822
Medium
nishikie, with metallic pigments
Dimensions
206; 183
About this artwork
kleurenhoutsnede; lijnblok in zwart met kleurblokken; metaalpigmenten
Art Historical Context
Yashima Gakutei, a masterful ukiyo-e artist poet active in early 19th-century Japan created *De onsterfelijkesennin) Ôkyô* around 1821–1822. This enchanting print portrays Ôkyô, a sennin—an immortal sage from Daoist folklore revered in Japanese culture for supernatural feats like levitation and shape-shifting. During the Edo period, such mythical figures symbolized longevity and spiritual transcendence, captivating audiences amid Japan's vibrant woodblock print tradition. Rendered as a nishikie, or "brocade picture," the work exemplifies luxurious color woodblock printing: a fine black line b...
About the Artist
Yashima Gakutei · 1786–1868
Yashima Gakutei (c. 1786–1868), born in Osaka as the illegitimate son of a Tokugawa shogunate samurai named Hirata, adopted the name from his mother's subsequent marriage into the Yashima clan. Little is documented about his early years beyond these familial ties, but he pursued artistic training under the esteemed ukiyo-e masters Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, absorbing their precision in ...