Ogata Kenzan (1663]1743) was Korin's younger brother. After studying Ninsei's pottery methods, Kenzan established the Narutaki kiln in Kyoto's northwest (sometimes called Ken) and from that his name gKenzan," or gKen mountain," was coined. He created a large number of sets of food dishes, and while it is thought that these works were created in a workshop environment by numerous craftsmen, Kenzan himself was superb designer, using these ceramic wares in place of a canvas, brushing on poems, uniquely askew flowers and grasses, and various overglaze enamels. The bodies of these dishes were mold]cast, and then a foot was applied to the molded body. A white slip was brushed onto the plain clay surface, and a flowing water pattern was painted in underglaze iron on this surface. A transparent glaze was applied to the entire piece, and the works were fully fired. The overglaze paintings were then formed by outlining layered maple leaves in gold pigment and decorating these leaves with one of three colors of pigment]]red, yellow, or green. This maple leaf and water motif conveys an image of the Tatsuta River. Skillful variations in the flowing water pattern and colors chosen for the leaves belie the molded nature of these works and exemplify the sheer diversity of Kenzan's creative expression. The interior of the foot of each dish is inscribed gKenzan" in a square frame.
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