A swimmer, wearing goggles, performs the butterfly stroke in wavy splashes of water. The whole scene is rendered in vibrant segments of rainbow colors.

Butterfly (detail), Ay-Ō 靉嘔 (born 1931), Japan, Showa era, 1988, silkscreen, ink on paper, The Pearl and Seymour Moskowitz Collection, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, S2021.5.5, © Ay-Ō

Ay-Ō’s Happy Rainbow Hell

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Clusters of red maple leaves and wisps of reeds in a flowing, dark blue stream of water, indicated by painterly gold highlights of the currents.

Detail, Maple Leaves on a Stream (front), Ikeda Koson (1801–1866), Edo period, 1856–58, pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and color on gilded paper, Purchase—Harold P. Stern Memorial Fund and funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries in appreciation of James W. Lintott and his exemplary service to the Galleries as chair of the Board of Trustees (2011–2015), Freer Gallery of Art, F2014.7.1–2 

Rinpa Screens

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Delicately painted red flowers and small fruit against a light brown background, surrounded by green leaves.

Wisteria and Other Flowers (detail), Fukae Roshu (1699–1757), Japan, Edo period, 18th century, ink and color on paper, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, Freer Gallery of Art, F1958.12

Rinpa: Creativity Across Time and Space

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Two geese, painted in varying shades of gray ink wash, are suspended mid-flight with sketchy crashing waves drawn delicately in the background.

Geese Over a Beach (detail), Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (1733–1795), Japan, Edo period, 18th century, ink on paper, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, Freer Gallery of Art, F1898.143

Feathered Ink

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