Maruyama Ōkyo at AAM

Dragon and tiger (detail), Edo period (1615 –1868), c. 1781–1788,
by Maruyama Ōkyo (1733–1795). Japan. One of a pair of six-panel folding screens;
ink on paper. Courtesy of the Larry Ellison Collection.

I took advantage of the free first Sunday of the month at the Asian Art Museum to admire the outrageous fineness of Larry Ellison's gorgeous Japanese art collection. Afterwards I wandered upstairs to find a docent (but not SFMike's Divine Docent) standing in front of a Japanese screen depicting a vibrant winter scene by Maruyama Ōkyo. The docent noted that Ōkyo is Ellison's favorite artist. There are 4 works by Ōkyo in the downstairs galleries, such as the magnificent tiger above, & he's perhaps the show's break-out artist.

Young cat sleeping under saxifrage (yukinoshita) (detail), Edo period (1615 –1868),
by Maruyama Ōkyo (1733–1795). Japan. Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper.
Courtesy of the Larry Ellison Collection.

Apparently Ōkyo drew obsessively from a young age, & absorbed Chinese, Japanese & Western techniques. His exquisitely drawn sleeping cat is one of my favorites in the show. Its carefully observed fur & naturalistic plant life totally remind me of Dürer.

§ In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection
Asian Art Museum
Jun 28 - Sept 22, 2013