Shiba Kokan View of Mimeguri 1783 First copperplate etch of Japan
In his book about modern painting "Dissertation on the art of painting" Shiba Kokan gives a keen analysis of the differences between Western en Japanese/Chinese painting. It is an ode on Western realistic painting and a fierce attack on classical painters (fools) as well as classical japanese painting itself (meaningless childplay).
According to Shiba Kokan the artistic quality of a piece of art is determined by the extent to which it resembles reality. In his book he gives a detailed account of technical aspects of Western painting like the use of oil as a medium to bind pigments, the use of shadow to accomplish depth and painting in three tones.
Kokan was an impatient man with a mission. He could not understand that his traditional collegues did not realize that the advent of an era of rationalism en realism was inevitable.
I think he was in particular fascinated by the great applied value of Western thinking and science. He was inclined to overestimate the importance of the materialistic and realistic representation of reality. He showed little attention for the spiritual aspects of art. May be the vividness of his conviction was also meant to convince himself.
At the end of his fruitful life his view became broader.That is often the case with old men who look back at their career. " I chased after great desires like fame and wealth. I acquired fame and wealth. But for many years I got entangled in these two things".
He succeeded to liberate himself and at the end of his life returned to the spiritual sources of the Chinese and Japanese culture : Lao Tse, Confucius and Zen Buddhism.
The last years of his life he spent in a Buddhist temple near Kamakura