Two mounted fan paintings [center of a set of three scrolls] c. 18th century

This set of two mounted fan paintings, created by the renowned Japanese artist I Fukyū (1698-1747) around the 18th century, showcases the delicate beauty of traditional Japanese brushwork. The fan on the top depicts a scene of calligraphy, while the one at the bottom features a landscape with a lone tree and distant mountains. This work, housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, provides insight into the artistic practices of the Edo period. The masterful use of ink and the delicate brushstrokes on the fan create a sense of serene simplicity, a hallmark of Japanese aesthetics.