The Birds and Flowers of Keinen Imao

Keinen Imao

Keinen Kachō Gafu: The Bird and Flower Prints of Keinen Imao is on exhibition now at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) through April 23, 2023. This exhibition features a collection of detailed 19th Japanese woodblock prints of birds and flowers associated with each of the four seasons, by artist Keinen Imao (1845-1922). Born in Kyoto, Japan, Keinen studied classical Japanese painting, calligraphy, and printmaking. He spent most of his life creating works of art that celebrated the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Keinen specialized in kachō-e, highly detailed depictions of birds among native Japanese plants and flowers. 

Keinen made a living as a textile designer before establishing himself as a painter and printmaker. Keinen developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and spent most of his life creating works of art that celebrated the beauty and diversity of nature. He learned the traditional Japanese techniques of woodblock printing, which he would later use to create some of his most famous works. He was part of a movement called Shin-hanga, meaning “new prints,” which sought to revitalize traditional ukiyo-e printing techniques that were popular in Japan in the 17th through mid-19th centuries. He is best known for Bird and Flower Albums by Keinen (Keinen Kachō Gafu, 1892), published by Nishimura Soemon in four volumes of 40 prints each. Keinen’s bird and flower prints were exhibited in shows in Japan and Paris, where they influenced European artists who were attracted to their stark naturalism. 

To create a woodblock print in the traditional Japanese style, an artist first draws an image onto washi, a thin yet durable type of paper, which is then adhered to a block of wood. Using the drawing as a guide, the image is carved into the wood surface. Ink is applied to the relief, then paper is placed on top; the paper is rubbed with a flat tool to transfer the ink. Historically, the painter, carver, and printmaker were often different people, making the final prints a collaborative artistic process. In the case of Keinen Imao’s Kachō Gafu, Keinen painted the image, which was carved onto woodblocks by Tanaka Hirokichi, and printed by Miki Jinzaburo.

Keinen Imao, Red-flanked Bluetail and Peony, 1892. From Keinen’s Flower and Bird Painting Manual (Keinen Kachō Gafu). Woodblock Print. On loan from Ronin Gallery, New York City.

Keinen Imao, Alpine Accentor and Sasanqua Camellia, 1892. From Keinen’s Flower and Bird Painting Manual (Keinen Kachō Gafu). Woodblock Print. On loan from Ronin Gallery, New York City.

In addition to his work as a printmaker, Keinen was also a respected teacher and scholar. He taught at the Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, where he trained many young artists who would go on to achieve great success in their own right. He also wrote extensively about the natural world and its importance in Japanese culture, contributing to a growing movement that sought to preserve Japan's traditional way of life in the face of modernization. Keinen’s desire to accurately and beautifully depict native Japanese bird and plant species is reminiscent of the work of John James Audubon (1775-1851), who famously sought to depict all of the avian species of the United States in his seminal collection The Birds of America (1827-1838).

Exhibited at MMAM in Keinen Kachō Gafu: The Bird and Flower Prints of Keinen Imao are all four seasonal volumes in their entirety. The winter series is displayed framed on the walls of the galleries; while spring, summer and autumn remain bound and displayed in a case in the middle of the gallery. Periodic page turns allow museum patrons to view other pages on subsequent visits. Faithful reproductions grant viewers the ability to thumb through all of the works at their leisure. Keinen Kachō Gafu: The Bird and Flower Prints of Keinen Imao is on exhibition at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum through April 23, 2023 and is presented as part of a year-long suite of integrated exhibitions and programs that explore the human relationship to the flora and fauna of our mysterious and brilliant world. 

Keinen Kachō Gafu: The Bird and Flower Prints of Keinen Imao, Minnesota Marine Art Museum.