Travels through Mountains and Fields 1755 - 1775

Yosa Buson, a leading artist of the Edo period, created this folding screen, likely in the mid-1700s, using ink and color on paper. As a *bunjinga* painter, Buson sought to capture the spirit of the literati, the intellectual elite of China, through his art. Travels through Mountains and Fields embodies this aspiration, reflecting the longing for a life of cultured leisure. A bridge, a humble dwelling, and figures in the landscape offer a vision of harmonious existence. The *bunjinga* style was more than an artistic choice; it was a statement of identity. In a rigid social hierarchy, artists like Buson used their art to express values of freedom, individuality, and intellectual pursuits. This landscape, therefore, is not just a scene, but a cultural and personal declaration. It prompts us to consider the ways we, too, seek meaning and expression in our own lives.