Uragami Gyokudō

Japanese · 1745–1820

Uragami Gyokudō or Urakami Gyokudō was a Japanese musician, painter, poet and calligrapher. He was born in Kamogata, Okayama. In his lifetime, he was best known as a player of the Chinese seven-string zither, the guqin, but people came to appreciate his paintings after his death. His art features strong brushwork, often in patterns of strokes that build up a strong rhythm, and they reflect his musical compositions in relying on a limited number of possibilities that build up to powerful compositions. His Snow Sifted Through Frozen Clouds is recognized as a National Treasure.