“Dragon in the Clouds”

Suminoe Buzen

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Artist Name
Suminoe Buzen
Title
“Dragon in the Clouds”
Dimensions
painting：73.8×38.0cm
full length：168.2×53.5cm
Medium
Ink on Silk
Description
This work is a *Dragon in the Clouds*, depicting a dragon ascending upward through swirling, billowing clouds. The dragon’s features—particularly the textured surface of the skin from the crown of the head to the jaw, as well as the sharply defined horns and beard—are rendered with striking individuality. The clouds are expressed by brushing the background in dense ink while leaving portions of the ground unpainted, creating the forms of vapor through contrast. The pronounced interplay between light and dark areas gives the composition a dramatic visual impact.

Bokukō Buzen (1734–1806) was a painter active in Osaka from the mid to late Edo period. A pupil of Tsukioka Settei, he was born into a family that oversaw boatmen in Osaka. His surname was Nagata, and his given name was Dōkan (also read Kan); his common name was Shōzō, and his courtesy name was Shizen. He used several art names, including Mōrō, Shingetsu, and Buzen-sai.

He initially trained as an ukiyo-e painter under Tsukioka Settei and produced bijinga (pictures of beautiful women). Gradually, however, he developed a strong interest in Chinese painting and studied its techniques. In addition to painting, he gained considerable acclaim for a wide range of artistic pursuits, including metalwork for sword fittings and the creation of *senkeiban*—decorative trays in which stones were arranged with plants and miniature landscapes.


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