1741 - 1809

Quick facts

  • Lifespan: 68 years
  • Nationality: Japan
  • Born: 1741, Nagoya, Japan
  • Top 3 works: Peony with Bird
  • Top-ranked work: Peony with Bird
  • Art period: Early Modern

The Life and Spiritual Path of Gessen

Born in Nagoya, Japan, Gessen was a painter and a monk. He was born into a family involved in sake brewing and eventually became a priest of the Jōdo-shū sect of Buddhism. His spiritual journey led him to Edo, where he served as a priest at the Zōjō-ji temple. During his time in Edo, he studied the painting style of the monk-painter Sesshū under the teacher Sakurai Sekkan. Later, Gessen moved to Kyōto, living at Chion-in, where he became a student of Maruyama Ōkyo. In 1774, he assumed the role of head priest at the Jakushō-ji temple in Yamada, Ise Province. Through the significant income generated by his paintings, he was able to restore the wealth of the temple.

Artistic Style and Notable Works

Gessen was highly skilled in landscape painting and the depiction of figures. His portrayals of human figures often conveyed such profound poverty and despair that he earned the name "Beggar Gessen." His artistic legacy includes notable works such as the sliding door paintings (Fusuma-e) located in the Myōhō-in in Kyōto. He also produced printed works, including three volumes titled Ressen zusan in 1784. One of his recognized works is Peony with Bird, which is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Spørsmål og svar

Hva er fødestedet og fødselsåret til Gessen?

Gessen ble født i Nagoya i 1741.

Hvor finner jeg Gessen sine kunstverk gruppert etter kunstretning?

Siden Alle kunstretninger grupperer Gessen sine kunstverk etter kunstretning.

Hvor kommer Gessen fra?

Gessen ble født i Japan.

Hvilken by og hvilket land er Gessen født i?

Gessen ble født i Nagoya i Japan.

Quick quiz

Det er kun ett riktig svar på hvert spørsmål.

Spørsmål 1:
In which Japanese city was Gessen born?
Spørsmål 2:
Which famous painter was one of Gessen's teachers?
Spørsmål 3:
What was Gessen's occupation in addition to being a painter?
Spørsmål 4:
What nickname was Gessen given because of his depictions of human figures?
Spørsmål 5:
In which year was the work 'Peony with Bird' created?