#urushi-e

Shibata Zeshin (1807–1891) was a painter and lacquerer active in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Along with professional skills, he learned poetry, history, and philosophy; he also practiced the Way of Tea. He excelled in the technique of lacquer-painting (urushi-e), experimenting with colours and textures. Zeshin was probably the first artist to use lacquer not only for decorating objects, but also as a medium for painting on paper. His immense output includes various items decorated with lacquer (trays, boxes, inro), tea ceremony utensils, painted screens, hanging scrolls, and fan paintings. Although revolutionary in terms of technique, Zeshin remained faithful to traditional subjects, depicting plants, insects, animals, and landscapes. His work is characterised by a great sensitivity to form and composition. 

Okumura Toshinobu: An Owl and Sparrows ca. 1716-1736

This is an example of urushi-e, the early ukiyo-e before invention of multicolored woodblock printing. After printing the outline of the picture on a woodblock, other colors were added by brush. Hence it has fewer colors than ukiyo-e in later years. An owl is holding kiseru (Japanese pipe) attached to a tobacco pouch.

Tabacco and Salt Museum, Japan