Mountain Stream in Heavy Rain c. 1800

Curator: Let’s look at "Mountain Stream in Heavy Rain" by Matsumura Goshun, who lived from 1752 to 1811. It depicts a muted landscape in ink on paper. The artwork is nearly 50 inches tall. Editor: The immediate impression is one of melancholy and the imposing power of nature. The heavy, blurry strokes communicate immense rainfall. Curator: Absolutely. Goshun's work exemplifies how materials like ink and paper, combined with skillful brushwork, evoke atmosphere and emotion. The artist’s labor in producing the varying densities of ink wash should also be noted. Editor: And note the almost absent human presence. The small structure at the mountains’ peak is dwarfed. The work becomes a commentary on our vulnerability against the natural world and our relationship to it. Curator: Yes, I see the artist highlighting humanity’s place within a grander, more powerful system. Editor: Indeed. Thinking about ecological concerns today, Goshun's contemplation feels incredibly pertinent.