Kono Bairei

Kono Bairei was an artist active during the decade spanning 1880 to 1890. Documentation of the artist’s output is preserved primarily through their drawings held in institutional collections. Seven drawings by Kono Bairei are represented in museum collections, confirming the quality and historical significance of the work.

The preservation of Kono Bairei prints and drawings is centered primarily at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The cataloged works reflect a focus on observational studies and genre scenes, including both natural subjects and figure studies. Notable works include the botanical study Branch of Begonia in Bloom, along with the compositional pieces Dancer in a Fisherman's Costume, Girl Holding a Cricket Cage, The Faggot Bearer, and The Shrimp Fisherman.

The existence of these pieces within the Cleveland Museum of Art establishes the archival foundation for further study of Kono Bairei prints. Today, many of these historical works are available in the public domain, offering access to downloadable artwork and high-quality prints for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the artistic output of the 1880s.