Five personal letters 1834 - 1899

"Five Personal Letters" is a monumental handscroll by the renowned Japanese poet and calligrapher Ōtagaki Rengetsu, spanning over 14 feet in length. The work, composed between 1834 and 1899, showcases Rengetsu's mastery of brushwork and elegant script, conveying the intimate nature of her letters through the expressive flow of her calligraphy. The scroll, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the personal world of one of Japan's most celebrated female literary figures.