Poem by Ki no Tsurayuki (ca. 872–945) on Decorated Paper with Cherry Blossoms mid- to late 17th century Ogata S?ken Ogata S?ken headed a wealthy Kyoto merchant family that specialized in textiles, had close ties to the palace, and helped revive traditional Japanese arts in early eighteenth-century Kyoto. His crisp, elegant, and dynamic calligraphy shows indebtedness to the style of Hon’ami K?etsu, who had revolutionized the art of brush writing in the early seventeenth century. Here, S?ken transcribed a waka (31-syllable court verse) by Ki no Tsurayuki and—to add an unexpected twist—included t

Poem by Ki no Tsurayuki (ca. 872–945) on Decorated Paper with Cherry Blossoms mid- to late 17th century Ogata S?ken Ogata S?ken headed a wealthy Kyoto merchant family that specialized in textiles, had close ties to the palace, and helped revive traditional Japanese arts in early eighteenth-century Kyoto. His crisp, elegant, and dynamic calligraphy shows indebtedness to the style of Hon’ami K?etsu, who had revolutionized the art of brush writing in the early seventeenth century. Here, S?ken transcribed a waka (31-syllable court verse) by Ki no Tsurayuki and—to add an unexpected twist—included the poet’s name in the middle of the composition. It reads: Hana no ka ni koromo wa fukaku nari ni keri [Tsurayuki] ko no shita kage no kaze no ma ni ma ni The scent of blossomshas soaked ever deeperinto our robes, [by the poet Tsurayuki] as breezes come and goin the shade of the trees. (Trans. John T. Carpenter). Poem by Ki no Tsurayuki (ca. 872–945) on Decorated Paper with Cherry Blossoms. Ogata S?ken (Japanese, 1621–1687). Japan. mid- to late 17th century. Poem card (shikishi) mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and gold on paper. Edo period (1615–1868). Calligraphy

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