Ogawa Usen (1868–1938) was a Japanese-style painter who was based in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture. He observed rural life and the natural world around him with great depth, depicting creatures of the water—such as kappa—as well as pastoral landscapes and birds and beasts with a unique sensibility. Whilst inheriting the spirit of Nanga and literati painting, he is known for having created a world that combines simplicity with a touch of the fantastical, without being bound by realism.

There is a certain nostalgic, yet slightly mysterious, atmosphere to Izen’s works. Kappa and animals do not appear as eccentric figures, but blend quietly into the composition as part of nature, just like humans. To me, Izen’s paintings seem to gently blur the boundary between everyday life and fantasy, revealing the stories hidden within the nature that surrounds us. Their great appeal lies in the fact that deep observation and rich imagination breathe life into his simple brushwork.