Waterfall 

Kanō Motonobu, who lived from 1476 to 1559, painted this ink and color on silk work, titled "Waterfall". During Motonobu's time, the Kanō school of painting, known for its decorative and monumental style, was rising to prominence, deeply influenced by both Chinese landscape painting and traditional Japanese art. Waterfalls in Japanese art are not just natural phenomena; they are metaphors for life's journey, its trials, and its purifying force. This work moves beyond mere representation. The scene evokes a sense of awe and humility before nature. The lack of human presence encourages a personal, introspective experience. The viewer is invited to imagine themselves within this landscape, to feel the cool mist and hear the thunderous roar of the water. It offers a space for contemplation on nature's power and the transient nature of existence, reflecting a deep-seated cultural reverence for the natural world.