Noh Play Hachinoki by Shibata Zeshin

Noh Play Hachinoki c. 19th century

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shibatazeshin

minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture

minneapolisinstituteofart

color-on-silk, hanging-scroll, ink

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water colours

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color-on-silk

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japan

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possibly oil pastel

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oil painting

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hanging-scroll

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ink

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acrylic on canvas

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underpainting

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painting painterly

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animal drawing portrait

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watercolour bleed

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watercolour illustration

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watercolor

"Noh Play Hachinoki" is a hanging scroll by renowned Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin, dating back to the 19th century. The scroll depicts a minimalist scene of two birds in flight against a pale background. The delicate brushwork and simplified forms are characteristic of Zeshin's style, known for its masterful blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics with Western influences. The minimalist composition evokes a sense of serenity and vastness, reflecting the themes of nature and tranquility often explored in Noh plays. This work showcases Zeshin's ability to capture the essence of a scene with subtle strokes, inviting the viewer to contemplate the beauty of simplicity.

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minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

Set in the mid-Kamakura period, the story of Hachinoki (“Potted Trees”) is a tale of loyalty rewarded. One snowy day, a traveling monk appeared at the home of the warrior Sano no Genzaemon-no-jō Tsuneyo and asked to stay. Tsuneyo initially declined as his family was too poor to host anyone, but at the urging of his wife, changed his mind. To keep the house warm, Tsuneyo sacrificed his prized bonsai trees—miniature plum, cherry, and pine—as firewood. Tsuneyo explained to the monk that his family had once owned a large piece of land, but a relative had usurped it. But despite his poverty, he avowed, he would immediately ride his horse to battle if the shogun needed him. A few days later, he received a mobilization order by the regent Hōjō Tokiyori. Arriving in broken armor and holding a rusty weapon, Tsuneyo endured the mockery of his peers when he was specifically called out to meet the regent. He then realized that the monk he had helped was Tokiyori. To show his appreciation, Tokiyori promised to return the lost land to him, and gave three estates for the three trees Tsuneyo sacrificed.

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