Peony Sheltered by Rice Straw 1761 - 1828

Sakai Hōitsu created this painting, Peony Sheltered by Rice Straw, using ink and color on silk. Notice how the materials themselves carry cultural information. Hōitsu engages with two distinct worlds here: that of fine art and craft. The delicate silk, and refined brushwork that captures the peony’s soft petals belong to the world of high art. Juxtapose that against the image of the rice straw. Usually a humble material, rice straw is used to protect plants from the harsh weather. The application of ink and color is painstaking, demanding skill and precision, but the subject matter elevates the status of humble, everyday materials. The painting asks us to reflect on our relationship with nature, and to see the beauty in the simplest of things. By bringing together these two worlds, Hōitsu blurs the boundaries between art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the beauty and value in both.