Landscape [left of a triptych of White-Robed Kannon with Landscapes] c. late 15th century
kenkoshokei
minneapolisinstituteofart
ink, color-on-paper
toned paper
ink painting
pencil sketch
charcoal drawing
japan
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
ink
color-on-paper
coffee painting
underpainting
watercolour illustration
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).
Comments
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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