Landscape [left of a triptych of White-Robed Kannon with Landscapes] by Kenkō Shōkei

Landscape [left of a triptych of White-Robed Kannon with Landscapes] c. late 15th century

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minneapolisinstituteofart

ink, color-on-paper

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toned paper

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ink painting

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pencil sketch

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charcoal drawing

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japan

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possibly oil pastel

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oil painting

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ink

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color-on-paper

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coffee painting

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underpainting

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watercolour illustration

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watercolor

This ink-on-paper landscape painting by Kenkō Shōkei, from the late 15th century, depicts a misty mountain range with a prominent peak on the left side. The artist's use of delicate brushstrokes creates a sense of atmospheric depth and tranquility. The composition is balanced and elegant, showcasing Shōkei's mastery of the "haboku" (splashed ink) style, a technique inspired by Chinese ink painting. The work likely served as part of a triptych, with the other panels featuring a White-Robed Kannon (the Buddhist goddess of mercy).

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minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

Buddhist monks, particularly those of the Zen school, were devoted landscape painters. Like calligraphy, painting was considered part of the spiritual training necessary for enlightenment. Zen monks favored monochrome ink painting due to its simplicity and straightforwardness. The priest Kenkō Shōkei, who served as secretary at Kenchōji Temple in Kamakura, studied Chinese paintings from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties and became a key figure in the ink-painting circles of Japan

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