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Collections

Kuwagata Keisai
Admiring the Spirit and Form of Nature1795

Not on view
Printed book spread showing front and rear anatomical diagrams of a nude male figure on a measuring grid, with vertical Japanese text columns above and beside each figure
Japanese illustrated woodblock-printed book, open to two pages: left page shows marine creatures including a squid, carp, lobster, crab, shellfish, and tuna rendered in black, orange, and brown; right page depicts two landscape vignettes with mountains, rocky outcroppings, buildings with orange rooftops, figures, and pale blue water, with vertical columns of Japanese script.
Illustrated bound book, open spread showing ink and pale wash drawings of sumo wrestlers in multiple grappling poses across both pages, with columns of Japanese script visible on the right page.
Woodblock-printed Japanese picture book open to two pages: left page shows loosely rendered figures of people in various poses with minimal ink lines and light gray wash; right page depicts insects including cicadas, dragonflies, grasshoppers, butterflies, a mantis, and bats, rendered in fine brushwork with subtle green, brown, and black ink. Small Japanese characters at lower right.
Ink and light wash sketchbook spread with multiple figure studies of wrestlers in dynamic poses, depicting pairs and individual figures grappling, throwing, and struggling across both pages, rendered in fluid brushwork with pale terracotta and ink outlines.
Illustrated Japanese album spread, two pages densely filled with small ink and light wash sketches of comical, stylized human figures in various poses—carrying objects, rowing a boat, seated, and gesturing—rendered with fluid brushwork and minimal detail.
Japanese illustrated manuscript opened to two pages filled with ink and light wash figure studies of nude human forms in varied poses—crouching, reclining, inverted, and gesturing—rendered with fluid brushwork.
Illustrated bound album open to two pages, with numerous small ink and watercolor sketches of figures in dynamic poses, rendered in loose brushwork with orange, gray, and black accents on white paper.
Illustrated Japanese bound album opened to two pages, densely scattered with small ink and watercolor sketches of courtiers in Heian-period robes, depicted in various seated and reclining poses, with accents of orange, teal, and gray on white paper.
Illustrated manuscript album open to two pages, with fluid ink and orange wash sketches of figures on horseback at left and standing or kneeling robed figures at right, rendered in a loose Japanese brushwork style on white paper
Illustrated manuscript album spread with ink and light wash sketches depicting warriors, mounted archers, and animals including deer, boar, and rabbits; figures shown with bows, swords, and spears in orange and gray tones on white ground
Illustrated manuscript spread with brush-drawn figures in orange, gray, and black ink, depicting warriors, mounted archers, and combatants in dynamic poses across both pages, rendered in a Japanese sketch style.
Illustrated Japanese woodblock-printed book spread showing multiple small figures in orange and gray ink; left page depicts farmers, oxen, and water scenes; right page shows warriors and archers with swords and bows, arranged in loose vignettes across both pages
Illustrated book opening with brush-drawn figures depicting agricultural labor across both pages; workers bend to tend rice paddies, carry loads on shoulder poles, and use tools, rendered in loose ink outlines with pale blue and gray wash accents.
Illustrated manuscript spread with ink and light wash drawings depicting agricultural scenes: figures carrying grain bundles, pack animals loaded with straw, workers in conical hats harvesting and threshing near water, and laborers on a bridge and rocky embankment, rendered in fluid brushwork across two pages.
Illustrated Japanese manuscript spread showing multiple small ink and watercolor vignettes of figures engaged in various craft and labor activities, including grinding, hammering, carrying loads, and working at low tables, rendered in loose brushwork with pale blue and gray washes on cream paper.
Japanese illustrated manuscript spread showing multiple small ink and watercolor sketches of male figures engaged in various craft and labor activities, depicted with fluid brushwork in pale blue-gray tones with orange accents
Japanese woodblock-printed book, open two-page spread with multiple small ink and pale blue illustrations of figures engaged in various crafts and activities, including musicians, scribes, and laborers, rendered in fluid outline style with sparse color washes.
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread showing multiple small figure sketches in pale blue and gray ink, depicting figures in various poses engaged in everyday activities, rendered in loose expressive line work
Japanese illustrated album open to two pages, displaying multiple small figures in orange and blue-gray robes across both pages, depicted in dynamic poses including dancing, bending, reclining, and gesturing, rendered in loose brushwork with flat washes of color on light paper
Illustrated album open to two pages, ink and light color on paper, featuring dozens of small figure sketches in Japanese brush style. Left page shows figures engaged in various activities including cooking, carrying, and resting. Right page depicts figures in dynamic poses, some appearing to run or swim, with lightly brushed hills and waves in blue-gray wash.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book, open spread showing dozens of small sketch-style figures engaged in various activities and occupations, rendered in fine ink outlines with sparse orange color accent on one figure at right.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book, open two-page spread filled with small ink figure sketches depicting figures in traditional Japanese robes engaged in various activities, including working, conversing, kneeling, and stretching fabric, arranged loosely across white pages with fine, spare line work.
Woodblock-printed book opening showing botanical studies of flowering plants scattered across two pages; orange, pink, and gray blooms with stems and leaves rendered in flat color on cream paper.
Japanese woodblock-printed album open to two pages, displaying multiple botanical studies of grasses, flowering plants, and foliage in black, pale green, cream, and salmon-pink on white paper, with sparse, elegant brushwork-style compositions scattered across both pages.
Japanese woodblock-printed book opened to a double-page spread, depicting botanical studies of pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, camellia, chrysanthemums, and other plants in soft pink, green, and gray-black ink on cream paper.
Japanese woodblock-printed book opened to a two-page spread; left page shows three landscape vignettes with mountains, water, trees, and architectural structures in pale green-blue washes with vertical columns of Japanese script; right page depicts studies of small birds in flight rendered in loose brushwork with orange and gray washes, and a perched bird beside drooping willow branches.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book opened to a double-page spread, showing multiple small landscape vignettes of coastal and lakeside scenes with mountains, pine trees, architecture, and a torii gate in orange-red accent color, with Japanese calligraphic labels beside each scene.

Kuwagata Keisai, Admiring the Spirit and Form of Nature, 1795 (alternate view), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Caroline and Jarred Morse, photo © Museum Associates / LACMA

Artist or Maker
Kuwagata Keisai
Japan, 1764-1824
Title
Admiring the Spirit and Form of Nature
Place Made
Japan
Date Made
1795
Period
Edo period (1603-1868)
Medium
Woodblock print book; ink and colors on paper, silk cover
Dimensions
8 1/2 x 7 1/8 x 1/4 in. (21.0 x 18.1 x 0.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Caroline and Jarred Morse
Accession Number
M.80.219.6
Classification
Books
Collecting Area
Japanese Art