Itō Jakuchū
A luminous full moon stands as the sole witness to a sudden eruption of white blossoms bursting from a gnarled, ancient plum tree in the hush of night. Itō Jakuchū, the creator of this dreamlike image, was regarded as one of the Three Eccentrics of his time, alongside Soga Shōhaku and Nagasawa Rosetsu. In his exuberant depictions of the natural world, Jakuchū fused seemingly opposing qualities—keen observation with dazzling color and decorative abstraction.
Born the eldest son of a wholesale grocer in Kyoto, Jakuchū initially inherited and managed the family business, devoting more than 15 years to commerce before turning fully to painting at the age of 40. Dated 1755, this work ranks among the earliest of his signed and dated paintings.
P.S. Hanami is a Japanese tradition of observing and enjoying the beauty of flowers, especially the famous cherry blossoms (sakura).
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