Red Plum Blossom, Suzuki Kiitsu

Archive Label 2003: For Landscape with Flowering Plum and Hinoki in Snow Kiitsu took advantage of the intimate and gracefully curved format of a folding fan. This painting is about spring, just as Hinoki in Snow is about winter. Japanese literature and art are replete with seasonal references, and sets of paintings as well as anthologies of poetry were typically organized in accordance with the four seasons. There were probably originally four paintings in this series, one for each season. Landscape with Flowering Plum has been retouched; most of the blue for the water is a later addition. The blue visible at the center bottom, where a small portion of the later paint has chipped off, was probably the original color. Archive Label date unknown: Originally trained as a dyer, Kiitsu entered the studio of the leading Rinpa School artist Sakai Hōitsu. These fan paintings, which may not have been intended for actual use, display characteristic elements of the Rinpa School: nearly abstracted forms in assymetrical compositions, rich coloring, and the tarashikomi technique (the dripping or brushing of colors into wet ink). The strong seasonal aspect is typical of Japanese painting. The paintings bear the signatures and seals of Kiitsu, but especially the plum blossom painting has been retouched. The blue used for the water is a later addition. What was probably the original color of blue is visible at the center bottom where a small portion of the later paint has chipped off.