Musk Cat 1550 - 1599

This hanging scroll, *Musk Cat*, was made by Uto Gyoshi around 1580, using ink and color on silk. This is typical of paintings from the late Muromachi period, yet Gyoshi has achieved a distinctive, softer effect. The character of the painting emerges from the materials themselves. The silk is lightweight, receptive to the ink which delicately permeates the fibers, creating subtle tonalities of black and gray. The painting style is known as *kachō-ga*, literally ‘bird-and-flower painting’ a tradition that required both technical skill and an intimate knowledge of the natural world. Gyoshi would have spent years mastering brushstrokes, ink washes, and color application to realistically represent the animals and plants. The painting invites us to consider the relationship between craftsmanship and artistic expression. The emphasis on skillful execution elevates the work, and encourages an appreciation for both the artistic representation, and the traditional practices of Japanese painting.