The most famous haiku poem, by the most famous Japanese poet Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), describes a frog:
古池や蛙飛びこむ水の音
Furu ike ya / kawazu tobikomu / mizu no oto
An ancient pond / a frog jumps in / the splash of water
For Zen monks, painting and calligraphy in simple black ink on paper provided a medium to express complex philosophical ideas, often with minimal simplicity. The main aim of any Zen images, similarly, was to reduce an image to as few brush strokes as possible, but which would express entirely the artist and subject, stripping away all that was deemed unnecessary and leaving behind the core elements or spirit. Seemingly simple; yet exceedingly difficult in practice.
Matsumoto Hoji (1814)
The design by Matsumoto Hoji of a frog done with simple minimal strokes perfectly accompanies the above concept, stripping details and reducing the lines and elements to a core of simplicity.
This picture of a frog is originally a print from the Meika Gafu (A Book of Paintings by Celebrated Artists), published in 1814, an encyclopaedia of artists. The original painting however, was by the artist Matsumoto Hoji. Very little seems to be known about the artist, other than that his paintings of frogs belong to a category of Japanese painting known as Zenga, or ‘Zen painting’.
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary party adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ca...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary birthday adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whi...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary French adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary sushi adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: Image from a woodblock print by Matsumoto Hoji from the "Album of Pictures by Celebrated Artists". The Japanese word for...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary ramen adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Scottish adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary romantic adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary gardener adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Sherlock adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whi...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary book reading adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, w...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Christmas adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, wh...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary artist adaptation of an antique Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary geisha adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Stonehenge adaptation of an antique Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “ka...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary French adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, ...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary sushi adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary royal adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Dracula adaptation of an antique Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary rainbow adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whic...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary ramen adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which ...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary samurai adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whic...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary book reading adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, w...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Graduation adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whi...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Santa Claus adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Watson adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which can al...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: Image from a woodblock print by Matsumoto Hoji from the "Album of Pictures by Celebrated Artists". The Japanese word for...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary doctor adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which c...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary get well adaptation of an antique Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaer...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary samurai adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, whic...
View full details
Tote Bag
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Elizabethan adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, wh...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary geisha adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary lawyer adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary pirate adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which c...
View full details
Pin Badge
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary sushi adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which c...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary egyptian adaptation of an antique Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kae...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Bookmark
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary royal adaptation of a woodblock print by Matsumoto Hoji. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which can...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Lady Gatsby adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print dating 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, ...
View full details
Greeting card
Text on the reverse side: A contemporary Indian adaptation of a Japanese woodblock print from 1814. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which c...
View full details
Tote Bag
Art Print
Luxury pearlescent eco-certified paper Conservation acid-free board included Produced in our London studio Securely delivered flat ready to di...
View full details
Leave a comment