Autumn Landscape 1862

Hidaka Tetsuo created this landscape scroll painting, sometime before 1875, using ink on paper. A work like this demands that we consider process. The apparent simplicity of monochrome belies the skill required to execute it well. Think about the way ink interacts with paper – how it bleeds, or doesn't; how the pressure of the brush determines the thickness and darkness of each line. Hidaka masterfully manipulates these elements to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The materials themselves also suggest something of the artist's social context. Paper and ink were relatively accessible, even to those outside the elite classes. The creation of such a landscape was a meditative, solitary act. The finished scroll can be easily transported and displayed. Its inherent fragility encourages careful handling. Appreciating this artwork requires us to acknowledge not just its visual qualities, but also the time, skill, and materials that went into its making. The traditional art of painting is often passed down through generations. It’s a craft.