Untitled 

Ike no Taiga made this ink-on-paper painting sometime in the mid-18th century. It’s a beautiful example of *bunjinga*, or literati painting, which prized spontaneity of expression. Consider how the materials themselves allow this effect. The ink, applied with a brush, bleeds and feathers into the paper. The artist makes no attempt to control this – in fact, he relies on it. Rather than building up an image with many strokes, Ike no Taiga has aimed for an economy of means. This approach reflects a cultivated sensibility. *Bunjinga* painting was closely tied to calligraphy, and both of these were seen as gentlemanly pursuits. The artist was part of a cultural elite, who regarded skilled craftsmanship with a degree of suspicion. For this reason, the apparent artlessness of the image should not be mistaken for a lack of skill. Rather, it is a demonstration of mastery, with the material qualities of ink and paper doing much of the work.