Dragon Rising up to Heaven

Ryū Shō Ten (龍昇天, lit. Dragon Rising up to Heaven), also known Mt. Fuji and the Dragon from Gekko Zuihitsu (Gekko’s Sketchbook) is an elegant ukiyo-e of a dragon, shrouded in dark rain clouds, soaring into the sky with majestic Mt. Fuji is towering above. The print, dated 1897 is by Ogata Gekkō (尾形月耕) (1859 – 1920), a Japanese painter and woodblock print artist of the ukiyo-e genre. Gekko's work was inspired by Hokusai, creating a series of one hundred prints of Mount Fuji. Gekko’s work was inspired by Hokusai, creating a series of one hundred prints of Mount Fuji; however, he did develop his own style, with significant stylistic elements from traditional Japanese painting.