Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924) Japanese, Watercolor on Silk Grayscale Landscape. Verse upper left, I am walking in a place with few green trees. Mountains near and far are heaped like jewels. No one knows who that silver-haired man is. He wakes early to scoop up plum blossoms."

Size: 74 x 33 1/2 in.

Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924) was a Japanese painter and calligrapher celebrated for his bold, expressive works that bridged traditional literati painting and the evolving artistic currents of the Meiji and Taishō periods. Born in Kyoto, Tessai studied both Confucianism and Chinese painting, developing a style characterized by vigorous brushwork, rich ink tones, and imaginative compositions that often depicted historical scenes, landscapes, and figures from classical literature. Known for his eclectic approach, he freely combined techniques from Japanese yamato-e, Chinese literati painting, and modern influences, creating works that were both scholarly and visually dynamic. Tessai’s prolific career earned him widespread acclaim, and he is remembered as a pivotal figure in preserving traditional Japanese painting while innovatively engaging with contemporary artistic trends.

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