“Sixth Month” from Fujiwara no Teika’s “Birds and Flowers of the Twelve Months” 1743

Editor: Here we have Ogata Kenzan’s “Sixth Month” from the series “Birds and Flowers of the Twelve Months,” dating back to 1743. It's a watercolor painting, part of the Asian art collection here. There's such a stillness to it, despite the imagery of a flame and what appears to be a fishing expedition, everything seems so serene. What captures your attention in this work? Curator: Ah, Kenzan! He’s less a painter and more a poet whispering secrets onto paper, don't you think? What grabs me is that dance between spontaneity and control. Look at the seemingly effortless brushstrokes that create such an evocative landscape. Editor: The brushstrokes are delicate. How does it fit within its cultural context? Curator: Well, Kenzan was working within the Rinpa school, so there's this deep reverence for nature, an emphasis on decorative patterns. But he infuses it with his own quirkiness, his own soul. He wasn't afraid to break the mold, to be a bit…wonky. Notice how the inscription intertwines with the pictorial elements. Editor: It's like the poem *becomes* part of the scene. It definitely breaks free from traditional landscape. It is also quite stylized. Curator: Exactly. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about the relationship between image and word? The scene may appear random, but you have this amazing piece of writing which completes and contextualizes everything we are seeing. What does that evoke? Editor: That's fascinating. So much to think about with what initially looked like a simple painting. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure!