The Four Seasons 1890

Watanabe Seitei created this ink and colour on silk scroll, Waterfall, in Japan. The waterfall, or cascade of water, appears throughout the history of art as a symbol of purity, renewal, and the passage of time. Here, the water plunges from an unseen height, a visual metaphor for the transient nature of existence. From the ancient Greeks, with Heraclitus's river, to Leonardo da Vinci's studies of flowing water, we see humanity's fascination with flux. Consider also the Buddhist concept of impermanence, mirrored in the ceaseless flow. Such depictions carry emotional weight, engaging viewers with the sublime power of nature. The sound of falling water, even imagined, evokes primal feelings of awe and humility, a psychological response passed down through generations. The waterfall becomes a mirror reflecting our own fleeting existence. Thus, this symbol persists, evolving through time, yet still resonating with its ancient power.