Pines and Rocks Never Old c. 19th century

"Pines and Rocks Never Old" is a 19th-century ink-on-paper painting by the renowned Japanese artist Nakanishi Kōseki (1807–1884). The work, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, showcases Kōseki’s mastery of the brush, using sparse lines to depict the delicate branches and pine cones of a towering pine tree. The painting embodies the aesthetic principles of sumi-e, a monochrome ink painting style emphasizing the essence of the subject matter. Kōseki’s dynamic brushwork captures the enduring presence of nature, a theme deeply rooted in Japanese art and philosophy.