St. Olaf College

Ki Baitei

Contemporary painter
Japan
1734 - 1810

View objects by this artist.

Ki Baitei, also known as Kyuro, was born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1734. Although best known for his prints, Baitei was also a painter and a haiku poet like many other members of the Japanese literati movement. Baitei was a student of the renowned artist Yosa Buson, who was a key figure within the literati movement. Although the literati artists were best known for their scholarly abilities and technically refined artwork, Baitei did not shy away from allowing his humor to shine through in some of his works.
After moving to Omi, Baitei would adopt Buson’s style so wholeheartedly that he would become known as ‘Omi Buson.’ His style was seen as an inspiration for ukiyo-e artists that would follow him. Baitei died in 1810.

Madison Duran ‘20
March 2019

Sources:

Buson.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 13 Jan. 2019,
www.britannica.com/biography/Buson.
Hotei Japanese Prints - Reference Books.” Hotei Japanese Prints,
www.hotei-japanese-prints.com/referencebooks.
Ki Baitei (1734-1810).” Bonhams, 11 Nov. 2010, www.bonhams.com/auctions/17858/lot/328/.
Ki Baitei (紀楳亭) (Biographical Details).” British Museum,
www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bi
oId=149108.
Kramer, Hilton. “The Western Eye Is an Outsider Among Japanese Paintings.” The New York
Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 1974,
www.nytimes.com/1974/10/13/archives/the-western-eye-is-an-outsider-among-japanese-paintings-art.html