Mice on Rice-cake Flowers by Nagasawa Rosetsu

Mice on Rice-cake Flowers c. late 1790s

painting, hanging-scroll, ink

water colours

painting

asian-art

landscape

ukiyo-e

japan

figuration

hanging-scroll

ink

orientalism

line

"Mice on Rice-cake Flowers" (c. late 1790s) by the Japanese artist Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799) depicts a playful scene of mice frolicking amongst delicate willow branches and rice cakes. The delicate brushstrokes and light washes of ink convey a sense of whimsy and charm, characteristic of Rosetsu's style. The painting showcases the artist's masterful ability to capture the essence of nature and its creatures in a serene and evocative manner. The painting, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers a glimpse into the artistic sensibilities of late 18th-century Japan, emphasizing the appreciation for natural beauty and playful humor.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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For New Year's, the Japanese decorate cut bare branches with small balls of glutinous rice (mochi), which they think resembles plum blossoms, a harbinger of spring. In this rather earthy view of the holiday, Rosetsu has pictured a pack of mice devouring the delicate "flowers." Rosetsu, an exuberant and expressive ink painter, also excelled at working in an extremely detailed and refined manner. In this scroll, he displays his skill at kegaki, the technique of painting countless lines over a light wash to realistically portray the fur's soft, undulating texture. In addition, Rosetsu had an uncanny understanding of animals. Here, he deftly captured the nature of mice through their tense, delicate gestures and quick, dark eyes.