Shibata Zeshine

Shibata Zeshin was a Japanese artist and master craftsman famous for his work in lacquer and painting. Born in Edo, now Tokyo, in 1807, he bridged the traditional world of old Japan and the new era of modernization. He is especially celebrated for his astonishing skill with lacquer, creating small, exquisite objects, and for finding ways to use lacquer in flat pictures, which was extremely difficult.

He also painted in a lively, refined style, often with humor and a love of nature. His technical brilliance won admiration both in Japan and at international exhibitions abroad. Zeshin is remembered as one of the great craftsmen and painters of nineteenth century Japan, prized for turning traditional techniques into works of remarkable beauty.