One Hundred Paintings by Kōrin (Kōrin hyakuzu): [volume 4] 光琳百圖 1815

This is volume four of "One Hundred Paintings by Kōrin," made by Sakai Hōitsu sometime between 1761 and 1828. Hōitsu, who came from a privileged samurai family, became a Buddhist priest later in life, and dedicated himself to art, reviving the style of the earlier artist Kōrin. The woodblock prints are illustrations of various figures and scenes. The act of revival that Hōitsu was engaged in wasn't just about aesthetics; it was deeply entwined with cultural identity and the preservation of artistic heritage during a period of social and political transformation in Japan. Hōitsu elevates Kōrin’s status to that of a cultural icon, a figure of reverence but also of emotional connection. Hōitsu’s series reflects a longing for an idealized past, a past made visible through Kōrin’s artistic achievements. In a way, it’s about the identity of a nation—its art, its history, and its collective memory.