Ogata Kenzan

Related Category: Asian and Middle Eastern Art: Biographies

(ōgä´tä kĕn´zän) 1663–1743, Japanese potter and painter; younger brother of Ogata Korin. A follower of the Rimpa school, he set up kilns for the production of ceramics in the early to mid-Edo period. Proficient in the art of ceramic design and decoration, many of his pieces were of a smokey dark brown color. He also invented a ware entitled Kenzan-yaki. Most of his work was done in underglaze technique, with a number of porcelains utilizing overglaze enamels. His painting style was lyrical, although held not to be the equivalent of his brother's more renowned style.