Twilight Landscape 1392 - 1573

Ikkyū Sōjun’s “Twilight Landscape” is a hanging scroll from the Muromachi period, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting depicts a simple landscape with two trees silhouetted against a twilight sky, with a subtle atmospheric perspective adding depth. The painting is a testament to Ikkyū's artistic talent, but also his poetic sensibilities. He was a Zen Buddhist monk, poet, and calligrapher, and this painting is a testament to his varied skills. The minimalist style of the painting exemplifies the artistic trends of the time, where simplicity and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment were paramount.