Kōrin Picture Album (Kōrin gafu) - Nakamura Hōchū

A woodblock print from the 1802 Kōrin gafu, featuring a boat scene rendered in the minimalist and decorative style of the Japanese Rinpa school.

This woodblock print originates from the Kōrin gafu, a collection published in 1802 by the artist Nakamura Hōchū. Hōchū was a practitioner of the Rinpa school, a movement known for its decorative aesthetic and use of bold, simplified forms. The album serves as a tribute to the earlier master Ogata Kōrin, whose style Hōchū interpreted with a distinct, playful sensibility.

The composition depicts a small boat navigating water, occupied by several figures. The boatman is shown in a dynamic, forward-leaning posture as he poles the vessel, while passengers sit calmly in the stern. The artist employs a minimalist approach, using clean lines and flat areas of colour to define the figures and the water. The water itself is rendered through simple, rhythmic curves, suggesting movement without the need for excessive detail. The palette is restrained, relying on soft blues, muted yellows, and earthy tones to create a sense of harmony.

Unlike the highly detailed and often dramatic prints produced by other Ukiyo-e artists of the period, Hōchū’s work in this album is characterised by a sense of ease and spontaneity. The figures are drawn with a shorthand technique that captures their essence rather than their anatomical precision. This approach reflects the Rinpa tradition of prioritising design and mood over strict realism. The print is an example of the refined, yet accessible, artistic output that defined the cultural life of the Edo period. It remains a clear demonstration of how traditional motifs were adapted and reinterpreted by later generations of artists, maintaining the aesthetic principles of the school while introducing a lighter, more whimsical touch.