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Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide

Photo: Eduardo Calderon

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide

late 1920's

Yamaguchi Hachikushi

Japanese, 1890 - 1933

Although whimsical in appearance, Hachikushi's paintings often have a basis in actual experience. This view of the seashore was likely a recollection from the period of his seaside recuperation from tuberculosis in 1925 and 1926. Broad crescent strokes of ink describe the contours of the coastline, and abbreviated wet strokes adeptly evoke tiny, bent-over figures harvesting shellfish. The few critical touches of color serve to highlight the wonderful ink tonalities. Hachikushi's exquisite control of the brush and sense of composition were praised for fusing literati technique with the sensibility of haiga, the companion painting form to haiku.
Ink and light colors on paper
77 1/16 x 13 1/2 in. (195.7 x 34.3cm)
Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2010.41.73
Photo: Eduardo Calderon
location
Not currently on view

Resources

Published ReferencesMichiyo, Morioka; Berry, Paul. "Modern Masters of Kyoto: The Transformation of Japanese Painting Traditions," Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1999, p. 188, illus. 52.

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