Sound of Cold Air c. 18th century
yosabuson
minneapolisinstituteofart
drawing, paper, ink-on-paper, hanging-scroll, ink
drawing
water colours
asian-art
japan
paper
ink-on-paper
hanging-scroll
ink
line
calligraphy
"Sound of Cold Air" is a hanging scroll by the renowned Japanese artist Yosa Buson, created in the 18th century. The artwork is a powerful example of *haiku*, a form of Japanese poetry that emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of the natural world. Buson's calligraphy, executed with bold black ink on a pale, off-white paper, evokes the chill of winter air, inviting viewers to contemplate the quietude and serenity of the season. The minimalist composition, a single brushstroke on a large canvas, showcases the artist's technical mastery and profound understanding of the essence of *sumi-e*, the art of ink painting.
Comments
Two characters, one for “cold” and another for “sound,” appear to fuse into one in this work. The word kangoe refers to the sound of singers and monks practicing vocal exercises during cold mornings and nights to strengthen their vocal cords. The elongated form of the writing evokes the long breaths expelled from mouths, visible in cold weather. Kangoe also functions as a seasonal word in the poem and signifies late winter. Buson was a Japanese poet and Chinese-style painter, and often accompanied his paintings with poems he wrote himself.寒聲Sound of cold airFrom the poem:寒声や古うた諷ふ誰が子ぞOh, sound of cold airwhose child could it bewho recites old songs
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
