OGATA

KORIN (c. 1657-1716)  , Japanese painter and lac- querer, was born at KOtO, the son of a wealthy merchant who had a taste for the arts and is said to have given his son some elementary instruction therein . Korin also studied under Soken Yamamoto, Kano, Tsunenobu and Gukei Sumiyoshi; and he was greatly influenced by his predecessors Koyetsu and SOtatsu . On arriving at maturity, however, he broke away from all tradition, and developed a very original and quite distinctive style of his own, both in painting and in the decoration of lacquer . The characteristic of this is a bold. impressionism, which is expressed in few and simple highly idealized forms, with an absolute disregard either of realism or of the usual conventions . In lacquer KOrin's use of white metals and of mother-of-pearl is notable; but herein he followed Koyetsu . Korin died on the 2nd of June 1716, at the age of fifty-nine . His chief pupils were Kagei Tatebashi and Shiko Watanable; but the present knowledge and appreciation of his work are largely due to the efforts of HOitsu Sakai, who brought about a revival of Korin's style . Sec A . Morrison, The Painters of Japan (1902) ; S . Tajima, Master-pieces selected from the KOrin School (1903); S . Hoitsu, The zoo Designs by Korin 1(1815) and More Designs by Korin (1826) . (E .

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