By Tanomura Chikuden
1834
Homma Museum of Art Collection
Designated Cultural Property of Sakata City
Born and registered as Tanomura Kōken in Bungo Province (present-day Oita Prefecture), the works of Tanomura Chikuden (1777–1835) are representative of late Edo period literati painting. While he did study painting under the literati painter and poet Tani Bunchō, he was largely self-taught, and developed an individual style that emphasised his gentle strokes, melancholy tone and poetic expression.
With its delicately-painted plum blossoms and wild sasanqua camellias, this fan painting exudes a restrained elegance. It was painted in 1834, the year before Tanomura’s death.