Scenes of the Four Seasons in Kyoto 1778

This long, horizontal scroll was painted by Genki, also known as Komai Ki, in Kyoto. It's made using ink and color on paper, a traditional format for Japanese painting. The material itself, paper, is crucial here. Think of the immense skill required to apply delicate washes of pigment to such a large, fragile surface. The artist would have used brushes of varying sizes and softness, each requiring a different touch. The support influences the painting's look. The absorbency of the paper allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating atmosphere and depth. This technique is labor-intensive, reflecting a deep understanding of the materials and processes. Yet the scene depicts a leisure, the seasons unfolding in a continuum of human activity. So, we see an interesting tension between the intensive making of the scroll, and the world of ease it represents. This reminds us that every artwork, even one that appears effortless, is the product of skilled work.