Dimensions height 171.5 cm, width 372.4 cm, width 63.4 cm, thickness 10.8 cm, thickness 1.9 cm
This screen with a sea eagle along the coast was painted by Ganryo, using ink and color on paper. At first glance, it’s a landscape, but look closer – what kind of landscape is it? There are strong symbolic meanings often present in traditional East Asian art. Ask yourself, what are the cultural associations with the sea, the coast, the eagle? What do they suggest to you about power, nature, and freedom? Notice how the eagle is integrated into the landscape – is it dominating or coexisting? This relates to the Daoist philosophy which promoted harmony with nature. It valued intuition and spontaneity, which is why the painting seems to be rendered in a style that captures a fleeting moment. The image's raw, immediate quality invites an emotional connection that transcends time.
Comments
A mighty sea eagle dominates the right section, contrasting with the left screen where a series of waves vanish into the distance. Ganryo was a painter of the Kishi School, whose adherents sought to create a vibrant form of naturalism that communicated the essence of their subjects. His work is characterised by an almost agitated style of brushwork, as in the waves which rise from the surface of the sea like dragon’s claws.
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