Geese and Reeds c. 18th century

Ito Jakuchu created “Geese and Reeds” with ink on paper, during the Edo period in Japan. Jakuchu was an outlier, an artist who chose to remove himself from the dominant art schools of his day, and instead focused on a personal and at times eccentric style. This hanging scroll is rendered in monochrome ink, depicting two geese resting amongst reeds. The intimacy with which Jakuchu portrays his animal subjects diverges from the traditional emphasis on idealized landscapes. There’s an emotionality in the soft brushstrokes that outline the geese, capturing their quiet repose. Jakuchu’s family background as Kyoto grocers gave him a unique perspective, as did his Zen Buddhist beliefs. He found beauty in the everyday, in the accessible. “Geese and Reeds” departs from the grand narratives of power. It reminds us to appreciate the simple moments of connection and serenity, and perhaps consider the radicality of finding extraordinary beauty in the ordinary.