Shibata Zeshin (柴田是真)

Shibata Zeshin (柴田是真) was an artist documented as being active as early as 1807. The body of work attributed to Zeshin reveals a focus on meticulous depictions of natural subjects, often emphasizing flora, fauna, and landscape views. The known works represented in museum collections include eleven paintings and four other associated pieces.

These verifiable works demonstrate specific thematic interests, encompassing detailed observations of wildlife as seen in titles such as Bear and Crabs, Bird and Cattails, and Birds and Jutting Rocks. Dynamic natural events are also captured, notably in A Carp Ascending a Waterfall, alongside broader landscape compositions like Boats near Hillside.

The stature of the artist is established through institutional holdings, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. The preservation of these Shibata Zeshin (柴田是真) paintings ensures continued accessibility for scholarship. Today, many of these historical artworks are available in the public domain, allowing access to high-quality prints for researchers and collectors.