Album of Lacquer Pictures by the Venerable Zeshin, 1887, Shibata Zeshin, Japanese, 1807 - 1891, 6 1/2 ¡Ñ 7 3/8 in. (16.51 ¡Ñ 18.73 cm) (shikishi), Ink and color on paper with lacquer (urushi-e), Japan, 19th century, Trained as a painter, Shibata Zeshin also received critical acclaim for his lacquer designs. He championed a technique of painting with lacquer on paper and silk, a difficult process but one that gives an appealing luster to his renderings. Each of the six leaves of this album shows his masterly use of this unusual medium.