Beauties Harvesting Bracken, from the series Gekkō’s Miscellaney
1892
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1892
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This print shows women bent over, gathering bracken ferns in a field. Their wide sleeves and layered robes hint at the late 1800s. Gekkō mixed Western shading with Japanese line work—a fresh look for the time. Look for the soft light on their backs and the delicate plant fronds. The scene feels quiet, but the artist’s fame grew fast after this. He won prizes at fairs in Chicago and Paris. One artist to compare is Kawanabe Kyōsai for bold figures. Ōgata Gekkō (Japanese, 1859–1920)
