Landscape and calligraphy

Maker(s)
Artist: Kameda Bōsai 亀田鵬斎 (1752-1826)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, early 19th century
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 116.9 × 27.2 cm (46 × 10 11/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Alice Yelen and Dr. Kurt Gitter
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1992.30
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, kakemono, landscape
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This strikingly simple landscape reflects its painter-calligrapher's interest in Chinese paintings of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Kameda Bosai was a scholar specializing in Chinese Confucian studies who became famous for his painting, poetry, and calligraphy, arts that he practiced while traveling widely in Japan. Bosai's two-line Chinese inscription on this work is written in his distinctive cursive style.

As morning comes, he tries to reach the fruit upon high branches,
And unwittingly knocks down the nest of an immortal crane.

Translation by Stephen Allee

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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