The Japanese draughtsman and painter Shibata Zeshin was born in 1807 in Edo, today's Tokyo. He experienced the transition from the Edo period, when the Tokugawa shoguns ruled, to the early Meiji era of Emperor Mutsuhito. During Zeshin's life, Japan began to orient itself more towards Western values. The transformation of Japanese society affected his work. On the one hand, his works were given modern elements, on the other hand he tried to preserve the traditional Japanese style of representation.
Zeshin received the basic training for making sketches and drawings at the Maruyama-Shijo Training Center in Kyoto. His private life was difficult and not marked by happiness, his mother and wife both died early. Thus Zeshin sought fulfilment in his artistic work. He painted a lot and painted or decorated with bronze and gold. One of his impressive and typical works, which he brought to silk with coloured ink, is Jurōjin (1887). The facial features of the depicted deity for wisdom and happiness are traditionally blurred to non-existent.
His graphics were precise, not too squiggly, colourful and yet not kitschy. Because of his impressive works, which were also exhibited in Europe, he was summoned to the imperial court as an art expert. For the international art exhibition in Vienna in 1873 he was engaged as the official representative for Japan. Many of his works of art, which he created for the Japanese government, were unfortunately destroyed in the turmoil of the following decades. He participated in the founding of several associations, for example the "Dragon Pond Society" for the preservation of traditional Japanese values. He died in Tokyo in 1891. His eldest son Reisai tried to continue his father's work and style.
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.jpg "Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Crescent Moon by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Mouse from Album of Paintings by the Venerable Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Rising Sun, second half of the 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Crows in flight in a red sky by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Mountains and Houses by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "The seven gods of good fortune on a takarabune, or treasure ship by Shibata Zeshin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-315844).jpg "Chickens Roosting on a Sail by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Seven Gods of Fortune in a Treasure Ship, Meiji era, late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Crows at twilight, Meiji era, late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Hanging scroll depicting a Cockerel, hen and chicks by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Morning Glory by Shibata Zeshin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1450768).jpg "Li Bai Gazing At A Waterfall by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-161396).jpg "Crows in Flight at Sunrise by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-117608).jpg "Gibbon Seated on a Rock with Rainbow in Foreground by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Quail in Grass by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Fisherman with Boy and Boats from the Series Hana Kurabe by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Egret on Tree Stump, late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Hens and Cock with Hammock from the Series Hana Kurabe by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Lacquer Paintings of Various Subjects: Bird and Willow in Snow by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Shoreline with Birds by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Maple Leaves and Feather by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "New Year")
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.jpg "House with Woman and Baby by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "The Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Treasure Ship, c. 1887 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Frog in pond by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Uba, ca. 1860 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Rooster, Hen, and Chicks, c. 1880s by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-135649).jpg "Ears of Rice and Cricket by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-290251).jpg "Insects on Grass by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Quail in Grass from Album of Paintings by the Venerable Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Mouse by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Gathering of Otsu-e Subjects by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Nagisa Palace from the Tales of Ise by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Cockerel, Hen and Chicks by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaves and Bird by Shibata Zeshin")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-215561).jpg "Rooster, Hen, and Chicks, Meiji era by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Peasant with Basket by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Noh Mask: Okina by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Birds by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Crows Flying at Sunset, c. 1888 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "The Four Elegant Pastimes - Music, the Game of Go by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Painting, 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Narihira Viewing the Cherry Blossoms by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Kettle and Box with Paint Brushes by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Surimono by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Dead Duck Next to Folded Letter by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Various Plants and Grass, late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Lacquer Paintings of Various Subjects: Butterflies by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Print for an Uchiwa, Women and Children, Meiji Era, Late 19th Century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Red Berry Plant and Butterfly by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Tea Jar and Cups by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "A Poetry Reading by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Bamboo Shoots by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "A Temple Hall by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-151588).jpg "Print for an Uchiwa, Gourds on a Vine with a Mantis, Meiji Era by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: New Ferns, 1847 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "White Peony in the Rain by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-264469).jpg "Fukurokuju and Daikoku gods by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Travelers in a Storm by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Shoreline with Birds from Album of Paintings by the Venerable Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Rice-Drying Frame by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-269404).jpg "Man On A Treadmill by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-288518).jpg "A River Boat by Shibata Zeshin")
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 January 1874 - (MeisterDrucke-217423).jpg "Fisherman on a boat, January 1874 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Three Men Looking at Framed Lacquer Drawing by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Spring Flowers by a Stream by Shibata Zeshin")
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 1859 - (MeisterDrucke-303929).jpg "Fan by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Moths from Album of Paintings by the Venerable Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Crow on Tree by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Cock on Drum by Shibata Zeshin")
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 mid to late 19th century - (MeisterDrucke-159818).jpg "Monkey Trainer and Dog, mid to late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Worm on Green Leaved Plant by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Cherry Blossoms with Pine Needle Border from the Series Hana Kurabe by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Ibaraki by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-598077).jpg "Surimono by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Peasant with Basket from Album of Paintings by the Venerable Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Leaf from Album of Seasonal Themes: Birds in Snow by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Japanese Butterbur and Inr? by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Vine and Seeds of Morning Glory, 1877 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Dolls Tate-bina by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Lacquer Paintings of Various Subjects: Grasshopper on Gourd Vine by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Peonies by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Tortoises and Crabs by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Portrait of Rikyu by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Lacquer Drawing on Paper by Zeshin by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Group, 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Ibaraki by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Flowering Plant from the Series Hana Kurabe by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-226138).jpg "Shojo, Meiji era by Shibata Zeshin")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-639884).jpg "Seven Gods of Good Luck, c. 1885 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Print for an Uchiwa; Firefly on Flowering Plant, with Bamboo Sieve by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Drying Persimmons by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Seaweed by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Mouse from Album of Paintings by Shibata Zeshin")
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 c 1877 - (MeisterDrucke-158576).jpg "Bamboo, Umbrellas, a Cat and Butterflies by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Crows Against a Red Sky by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Fire Basket Suspended from Dock over a Fish Net in the Water by Shibata Zeshin")
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 c 1877 - (MeisterDrucke-196144).jpg "Grasshopper and Sunflower, c. 1877 by Shibata Zeshin")
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.jpg "Flowers and Leaves, late 19th century by Shibata Zeshin")
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