Ogata Kenzan
Edo period potter, painter, and calligrapher of Kyō ware.
He is associated with Kyō ware and Kiyomizu ware, and is known for his distinctive style of freely brushed grasses, blossoms, and birds as decorative motifs for pottery.
- field
- Pottery, painting, calligraphy
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Kyō ware, Kiyomizu ware, collaboration with Ogata Kōrin
Lore & Background
Ogata Kenzan was the third son born into a rich kimono merchant family in Kyoto. His father was Ogata Sōken, a calligrapher and patron of Noh, and his older brother was the painter Ogata Kōrin. From a young age, Ogata received lessons in pottery from Koho and Rakuichi, grandchildren of Hon'ami Kōetsu.
Reader's Guide
Ogata Kenzan's significance lies in his integration of painting and pottery, producing pieces noted for their perfect relation between design and shape. He often collaborated with his older brother Ogata Kōrin, after whom the Rinpa style was named. His work, associated with Kyō ware and Kiyomizu ware, exemplifies the refined aesthetic of the Edo period. Kenzan's legacy endures through his distinctive motifs and his role in the development of Japanese ceramic art, influencing later generations of potters and painters.
Did You Know?
- Ogata Kenzan was originally named Ogata Shinsei.
- He used the pseudonyms Shisui, Shōkosai, Shuseidō, Tōin, and Shinshō.
- His family's shop, the Kariganeya, was patronized by Oeyo and Tokugawa Masako.
- He studied pottery with Koho and Rakuichi, grandchildren of Hon'ami Kōetsu.
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