Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807-1891), Cat Scratching Its Ear, ca. 1880-90; Lacquer on paper or gold leaf. Collection of Catherine and Thomas Edson.

The Genius of Shibata Zeshin: Japanese Masterworks from the Catherine and Thomas Edson Collection

Saturday, October 13, 2007—Sunday, January 6, 2008
U.S. Bank Gallery
Free Exhibition

This exhibition highlights the work of Shibata Zeshin (1807-91). Trained as a boy in the art of gold-flecked lacquerware, he gained a reputation as a master lacquer artist by reviving techniques long forgotten, and by advancing the field by integrating many new materials into his designs. He first studied painting to improve the decorations he applied to his lacquerware, but he soon became so adept the paintings themselves won high praise. Trained in the naturalistic manner of the Shijo School, Zeshin rejected the formulaic designs of his colleages and fought to maintain the quality of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. His crowning achievement was to invent a technique that allowed him to paint with lacquer on paper and silk. This installation is the first to examine Zeshin's work by looking at his dual role as a cultural preservationist and technical innovator. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies this exhibition.

This exhibition was organized by the San Antonio Museum of Art.