Flowers of Summer [right of a pair of Flowers of Summer and Autumn] by Tawaraya Sōsetsu

Flowers of Summer [right of a pair of Flowers of Summer and Autumn] c. 17th century

abstract painting

water colours

japan

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

acrylic on canvas

underpainting

paint stroke

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolor

"Flowers of Summer" [right of a pair of "Flowers of Summer" and "Autumn"] is a hanging scroll created by the Japanese artist Tawaraya Sōsetsu in the 17th century. The painting depicts a variety of flowers, including white lilies, red poppy-like flowers, and other unnamed flowers. Sōsetsu captures the beauty of the summer season with delicate brushstrokes and a soft color palette, highlighting the delicate nature of the flowers and leaves. The painting is now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Colorful wildflowers of summer and autumn abound in this pair of hanging scrolls by an early painter of the Rinpa school, a lineage of painters of the Edo period (1603–1868) that engaged with classical Japanese themes and designs to create a distinctively decorative style of painting. The right scroll is dominated by large white cockscomb, blue gentians and irises, and red azaleas. At left orange lilies, red magnolia, and white clematis bloom beneath the branch of a chestnut tree. Sōsetsu was a follower of Sōtatsu, the leader of the Tawaraya studio now seen as the progenitor of Rinpa-style painting. Sōsetsu also used his master’s large, round seal (read “I’nen”) that can be seen on the lower outside corners of each of the present scrolls.