Kōrin's Painting Style (Kōrin gashiki) 1818

Aikawa Minwa created this print, "Kōrin's Painting Style," sometime in the late Edo period. This image, spread across two pages, presents a stylized depiction of a deer leaping across a gentle, green slope. The composition is sparse. Minwa focuses on the form of the deer with its elongated neck and abstracted antlers to capture a sense of dynamic movement. The use of a muted palette—soft greens, greys and whites—creates a tranquil, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The texture, achieved through delicate strokes and a meticulous arrangement of color, adds depth and subtle variation to the deer's body. The title suggests an homage to the earlier artist, Kōrin, whose Rinpa style embraced decorative and stylized naturalism. Minwa’s print, however, distills this influence into a more minimalist form, reflecting the changing aesthetics of his time. This work isn't just a depiction of a deer but an exploration of artistic style and the dialogue between tradition and innovation.