The Moving Brush in "Rough" Painting 1749

Curator: Here we have a page from Tachibana Morikuni's sketch book, "The Moving Brush in 'Rough' Painting," created around 1749. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What's your immediate impression? Editor: There's a lovely simplicity. The ink strokes seem almost hurried, yet there is incredible balance, contrasting dark bold depictions alongside what almost feels like translucent renderings, it looks dreamlike. Curator: The beauty of this sketch book really lies in understanding its context. This wasn’t necessarily about creating perfect images, but exploring the potential of materials and the speed of mark-making, especially with ink on paper. This suggests a unique and valuable commentary on the labour inherent in creating this sort of traditional imagery, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I also find the choice of plum blossoms interesting; plum blossoms are powerful symbols of resilience and renewal, especially since they bloom in late winter, heralding the arrival of spring. That combined with the artist on the opposing page presents this profound duality - someone who seems to be creating, depicting or otherwise appreciating these hopeful harbingers. The themes are subtly powerful. Curator: Considering the relatively quick nature of the execution, what you call the 'rough' painting aspect, you wonder if it was created during winter specifically. Perhaps there's an unseen dialogue regarding the labour process in relationship to the seasons. It almost invites one to see if any specific natural pigments could be found that indicate time or place, Editor: Indeed. This image book page also allows us to access a bit of Morikuni’s artistic mind at work. Seeing how these images interact within the sketchbook format invites viewers to imagine other possible interpretations. The narrative potential in that is fascinating. Curator: A potent reminder of the rich dialogue that material investigation offers. There is always much more to be excavated than immediate iconography! Editor: True enough, each reveals something that the other obscures; I think together we gain more insight to appreciate the beautiful nuances captured on this page.