Artwork
Corn and Pampas Grass: Pampas Grass
Corn and Pampas Grass: Pampas Grass is an unspecified painting by Ogata Kōrin. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Ogata Kōrin, a central figure of the Japanese Rinpa school, painted *Corn and Pampas Grass: Pampas Grass* circa 1697. The work exemplifies his decorative approach, merging stylized botanical forms with a striking compositional balance, and is now part of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting belongs to the floral genre, focusing on corn and pampas grass as its primary motifs. By selecting these plants, Kōrin highlights the aesthetic potential of everyday vegetation, turning simple agrarian subjects into formal decorative elements.
Technique & Style
Executed in the refined Rinpa manner, the piece employs bold outlines, flat areas of color, and a rhythmic arrangement of forms. Kōrin’s handling of brushwork emphasizes surface patterning, creating a decorative surface that aligns with his broader work in lacquerware and textiles.
History & Provenance
Created near the end of the 17th century, the painting later entered the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop, where Kōrin often collaborated with his brother Kenzan on similarly decorative objects.
Context
During the Edo period, Rinpa artists revived classical Japanese aesthetics, favoring stylized nature scenes over realistic representation. Kōrin’s focus on corn and pampas grass reflects this trend, integrating traditional motifs with a modern sense of design.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ogata Kōrin (Japanese: 尾形光琳; 1658 – June 2, 1716) was a Japanese landscape illustrator, lacquerer, painter, and textile designer of the Rinpa School.
