Album of Copies of Chinese Paintings 1636 - 1699

This is an image from an album of copies of Chinese paintings, made by Kano Tsunenobu in the 17th or 18th century. It’s done with ink and color on paper. The artist has used the materials to imbue the work with a sense of ethereal calm, yet the scene depicts a charging ram. We can consider the skilled tradition of painting that Tsunenobu has engaged with, alongside histories of fine art and craft, as the artist's labor has become a commodity in and of itself. The painting is of a high quality, and the materials are of a high quality. Ultimately, it reminds us that even seemingly straightforward works on paper can be a complex interplay of cultural reference, artistic skill, and material understanding.