The Life and Spiritual Path of Gessen
Born in Nagoya, Japan, Gessen was a painter and a monk. He was born into a family involved in sake brewing and eventually became a priest of the Jōdo-shū sect of Buddhism. His spiritual journey led him to Edo, where he served as a priest at the Zōjō-ji temple. During his time in Edo, he studied the painting style of the monk-painter Sesshū under the teacher Sakurai Sekkan. Later, Gessen moved to Kyōto, living at Chion-in, where he became a student of Maruyama Ōkyo. In 1774, he assumed the role of head priest at the Jakushō-ji temple in Yamada, Ise Province. Through the significant income generated by his paintings, he was able to restore the wealth of the temple.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
Gessen was highly skilled in landscape painting and the depiction of figures. His portrayals of human figures often conveyed such profound poverty and despair that he earned the name "Beggar Gessen." His artistic legacy includes notable works such as the sliding door paintings (Fusuma-e) located in the Myōhō-in in Kyōto. He also produced printed works, including three volumes titled Ressen zusan in 1784. One of his recognized works is Peony with Bird, which is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Questions & Answers
How many artworks by Gessen are available to browse?
You can browse 1 artwork by Gessen on the All Artworks page.
How can I follow Gessen's work year by year?
The artist's Artwork Timeline page presents Gessen's works ordered by date, year by year.
Is there an overview of all the subjects Gessen painted?
The Subject Atlas page maps Gessen's artworks by subject.
Can I study Gessen's use of color across all works?
The Palette Genome of Gessen is a page that presents the color profile of the artist's body of work.
