Tenjin Traveling to China 1573 - 1599

This hanging scroll, "Tenjin Traveling to China," was created between 1573 and 1599 by the Japanese artist Konoe Nobutada. The scroll depicts the Japanese deity Tenjin, also known as Sugawara no Michizane, in a simplified, expressive style. This work, which is typical of Nobutada’s *sumi-e* paintings, displays the artist’s talent for capturing the essence of the subject through bold, flowing lines and minimal detail. The use of black ink on a light ground, a technique common to Japanese ink painting, is a testament to the artist’s mastery of this tradition. This artwork can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.