Pine late 19th - early 20th century

Noguchi Shohin painted this hanging scroll called 'Pine' using ink and color on paper. We can consider the image in relation to the cultural and institutional contexts of Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Japan at this time saw an increasing tension between traditional artistic forms and the Western art practices that entered the country during the Meiji Restoration. As Japan opened to the world, traditional artists faced a choice: maintain established styles or adapt to new influences. Noguchi Shohin's work embodies this tension. While the subject and medium nod to traditional Japanese painting, there may also be Western elements present in the treatment of light and space. Investigating exhibition records and critical writings from that time could shed light on how artists like Noguchi negotiated these competing demands and how institutions shaped their artistic identities. The image of a singular pine tree could be interpreted as a symbol of resilience, a theme that perhaps reflected Japan's own struggle to maintain its identity amidst global pressures.