Matsumura Goshun
Matsumura Goshun [NB 1] (Japanese松 村 呉 春; * April 28, 1752 (Traditional: Hōreki 02/03/15 ); † September 4, 1811 ( traditional: Bunka 8/7/17 ) ), also Gekkei Matsumura (松 村 月 渓) was a Japanese painter of the Edo period and founder of the Shijō school. He was a protégé of the artist Yosa Buson (1716-1784), a master of Japanese literati painting.
Life
Goshun was born as the eldest of six brothers in a family of high government official of the Imperial Mint ( kinza金 座). His parents wished that he received an education on the basics of Chinese and Japanese culture, such as classical history and literature, the art of calligraphy and painting as well as writing poetry. Therefore, he began studying in these arts at a young age. His early teachers were masters of literati painting ( bunjinga文人 画) who were studying classical Chinese painting styles prescribed. Also Goshun turned to this style of painting, he also developed an interest in haiku poetry, which he refined particularly in the study with his teacher Yosa Buson ( 1716-1784 ).
As a painter he had not immediately successful, but Buson helped him to keep afloat by he gave him as a literature teacher at rich province of merchants who wanted to be surrounded by an aura of culture in order to improve their status. 1781 took his life a dramatic turn. His wife and his father died this year and Buson, even terminally ill, his students could not continue to support apparently. In the course of Goshun left his home in Shijō district of Kyoto and moved to Ikeda near Osaka. During this time he continued to paint in the style Busons, but was still not successful enough to finance itself.
To 1787 it became clear that he had to join another group of artists and he joined the circle around Maruyama Ōkyo ( 1733-1795 ) in order to setting screens for the Daijō -ji, a temple in Hyōgo. Later events underpinned additionally Goshuns connection to Ōkyo as both raged after a fire in Kyoto, lived for a time in the same temple. Apparently was also a good friendship in this time from a good professional collaboration. 1789 Goshun again went to Shijō district of Kyoto, and used henceforth elements of Ōkyos style in his painting. Ōkyo looked Goshun never as his student, though in the records of Daijō -ji Goshun as the best student Ōkyos is listed, when he offered namely, officially join the school and to be trained as an apprentice, refused Ōkyo. He preferred that both remained at the same level as friends and Goshun was thus has the opportunity his own unique style mix of Ōkyo School and literati painting to develop. As Ōkyo died in 1795 founded his own Goshun that Shijō School, where he worked until his death and taught.
Style development
In the early years Goshun was clearly influenced by the literati painters and there, especially because of Busons training. His compositions bear the characteristics of Chinese painting mainly the Southern school were known by Maltraktate and located in Japan Chinese originals in Japan. During his time in Ikeda ( 1785 ) can be considered as maturity this early stage of his stylistic development.
After his time with Ōkyo (after 1787), his painting style changed completely, when he took over elements of Ōkyos decorative techniques under the influence of the Maruyama school and further developed.
However, as maturity, his style can be viewed only after Ōkyos death (1795 ), since he could consolidate his painting techniques from other masters within his own school without interference. Busons literati painting he seems to have given up in this period of his life, although he was traded as his rightful successor for some years after his return to Kyoto.