Autumn Landscape with Three Scholars by a River -Tasting tea with water of a mountain torrent- c. 19th century

Okada Hankō created this ink on paper piece, titled Autumn Landscape with Three Scholars by a River, sometime in the late 18th to mid-19th century. Its vertical format immediately draws the eye upward, pulled by the stark contrast between the pale ground and the dense, striated ink washes that form the monumental mountain. Hankō’s skilled brushwork mimics the texture of the rugged landscape; short, controlled strokes build volume and suggest depth. The composition divides into distinct horizontal layers, guiding the viewer's gaze from the foreground figures enjoying tea, through the cascading waterfalls and up to the towering peak. Hankō invites us to contemplate the interplay between man and nature. The scholars, dwarfed by the landscape, are harmoniously integrated within it. The artist destabilizes our perception of scale. Here, nature isn't a backdrop but an all-encompassing force. The monochrome palette emphasizes form, suggesting a timeless quality, while the textured application of ink reflects a deep engagement with the materiality of the medium itself.