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Reeds and Geese (from a Set of Panel Paintings for the Hojo [abbot

Explore the art of gessen (also sōkei), a Burmese-born artist known for evocative panel paintings like 'Reeds and Geese.' Discover their unique style & artistic legacy.

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Total Price

$ 263

reproduction

Reeds and Geese (from a Set of Panel Paintings for the Hojo [abbot

Reproduction Medium

Reproduction Size

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Total Price

$ 263

This series of paintings was originally part of the sliding doors adorning the main hall of Yotokuin Temple, one of the sub-temples of Daitokuji Temple. Twenty-eight panels survive today, including those produced in later times. These four were among the original sliding doors. They are executed employing soft, fluid brushstrokes inspired by Muqi Fachang, the Chinese monk and painter who was active in the Southern Song dynasty.The artist was Oguri Sokei, son of Oguri Sotan, who was official painter to the Muromachi shogunate. According to a 1490 entry in a diary called Inryoken Nichiroku, written by a Shokokuji Temple monk in the Muromachi period (1392-1573), the sliding doors were painted when extension work was carried out on Yotokuin Temple, and the artist Sokei intended his compositions to supplement the two panels of reeds and wild geese painted earlier by his father. Restorers’ additions made in the Meiji period have altered the original compositions considerably, but the series remains the oldest known ink painting on sliding doors. The series is also valuable as a rare benchmark example of the work of Sokei, who has very few surviving works to his name.

Artist Biography

The Dual Soul of a Visionary



The art of gessen, often whispered in the halls of history as sōkei, represents a profound and haunting bridge between disparate worlds. To encounter his work is to step into a space where the sharp, satirical wit of a journalist meets the meditative stillness of a master painter. Born in the vibrant landscape of Akyab, Myanmar, in 1870, gessen possessed a creative identity that was inherently nomadic and multifaceted. While he achieved literary renown under the biting pseudonym Saki—a name synonymous with much-loved prose and keen social observation—it is through his evocative panel paintings that his visual soul truly speaks. His artistry does not merely depict a scene; it captures an atmosphere of profound engagement, where the boundaries between Eastern spirituality and Western intellectual curiosity begin to dissolve into a single, seamless vision.

Roots of Intellectual Ferocity



The foundations of gessen’s complex worldview were laid within a family steeped in the heavy currents of political and social change. His early life was marked by an immersion in intellectual traditions that demanded both critical thought and a deep awareness of the world's shifting tides. This heritage instilled in him a lifelong commitment to documenting social realities, a trait that permeated both his literary satires and his visual compositions. There was a persistent tension in his work—a struggle between the serene beauty of the natural world and the complex, often turbulent, human experience. This duality is perhaps best reflected in the breadth of his influences:
  • A profound engagement with philosophical inquiry and the exploration of existence.
  • A commitment to socially conscious storytelling through his literary pursuits.
  • The integration of Eastern spiritual aesthetics with a Western analytical lens.


The Serenity of the Brush



Nowhere is gessen’s mastery more evident than in his celebrated panel paintings, most notably the breathtaking ‘Reeds and Geese.’ In this work, the artist transcends mere representation to achieve a state of pure, atmospheric grace. Utilizing soft, fluid brushstrokes that draw inspiration from the legendary Chinese monk Muqi Fachang, gessen captures the ephemeral beauty of the landscape with an almost ethereal lightness. The movement of the geese and the swaying of the reeds are executed with such delicate precision that the viewer can almost feel the stillness of the air. His ability to manipulate ink and space creates a sense of infinite depth, inviting the observer into a contemplative state. Through this mastery of technique, gessen’s legacy remains etched in the annals of art history—not just as a chronicler of beauty, but as a visionary who found harmony within the complexities of a changing world.
gessen

gessen

1870 - 1916 , Myanmar

Quick Facts

  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Panel paintings
  • Date Of Birth: December 18, 1870
  • Date Of Death: November 13, 1916
  • Full Name: gessen (also sōkei)
  • Nationality: Scottish
  • Notable Artworks: ['Reeds and Geese']
  • Place Of Birth: Akyab, Myanmar
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