Plum Blossoms c. 1818 - 1829

print, ink, color-on-paper

print

hand drawn type

etching

japan

personal sketchbook

ink

color-on-paper

ink drawing experimentation

botanical drawing

pen work

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

botanical art

watercolor

"Plum Blossoms" (c. 1818 - 1829) by Sensō is a delicate ink-and-color painting depicting a branch of plum blossoms, a popular subject in Japanese art. This hanging scroll, now in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, showcases the artist's skill in capturing the beauty of nature with subtle brushstrokes. The painting is filled with calligraphic inscriptions, adding to the cultural and historical context of the work. It embodies the "literati" style, a tradition emphasizing the artistic expression of scholars and gentlemen.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Sixty poems that celebrate the coming of spring are accompanied by an illustration of a blooming plum tree. A thatched farm house is partially obscured by the profusion of red flowers. The low mountain range in the background also contributes to the pastoral atmosphere. One of the poets who contributed a verse was also the designer of the print. It was not uncommon that designers of surimono were also members of poetry societies that commissioned the prints. This rather simple design is accentuated by a sophisticated technique called kiri-haku (cut foil). Tiny pieces of cut silver leaf were applied over the tree. These small shiny pieces (although darkened by oxidation today) may have been intended to represent the glittering sunlight of spring.