Zen-schildering en kalligrafie 1859 - 1944

Gōyō Gūkei made this Zen painting and calligraphy scroll somewhere between the late 19th and early 20th century. The artist’s brush seems to have danced across the paper, creating a world of serene contemplation. I imagine Gūkei, brush in hand, deeply focused, each stroke a deliberate yet spontaneous expression. The dark ink against the pale ground creates a contrast that feels both bold and delicate, just like a conversation between thought and action. The surface of the paper must have felt very different to canvas - I can almost feel the way it would pull at the brush. And that face! You can see a particular gesture in the rendering of the face, a certain line that gives him a twinkle in his eye - I feel like I know him. It’s like artists across time are chatting through their work. I feel connected to Gūkei and his process, in the same way that I’m connected to all painters. We are all in conversation with one another.