By Tomioka Tessai
1903
Homma Museum of Art Collection
Designated Cultural Property of Sakata City
Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924), known as the last of the literati painters, painted many works based mainly on classical Chinese subjects. His free-spirited, creative and original style of painting was highly regarded both at home and abroad.
Sōchūga, or paintings of insects and plants, are those in which various kinds of insects set among seasonal flowers and grasses are depicted together. Although they were popular in China, Japanese artists seldom produced paintings in this genre, making this an unusual example in Japanese art. This piece depicts a grasshopper perching on grass.