Fisherman 1602 - 1674

"Fisherman" (1602–74), by Kano Tan'yū, is a classic example of Japanese ink painting. The long, narrow format is typical of the *emakimono* style, a form of scroll painting. The minimalist composition features a lone fisherman in a boat with a sweeping landscape in the background. The artist uses subtle washes of ink to depict the mist and water, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. This work, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Tan'yū's mastery of the *sumi-e* technique, a style of ink painting that emphasizes the expressive potential of black ink.