Mount Horai c. 1860s

Kosetsu created this image, *Mount Horai,* in the 1800s using ink and color on paper. This is an unbound album leaf, and it's part of a long tradition of Japanese painting. Take a look at the mountain itself; it is rendered with broad, wet brushstrokes. The ink and color bleed into the paper creating soft, blurry edges. The artist is emphasizing the inherent qualities of the materials – their fluidity, their capacity to blend and create subtle gradations of tone. The calligraphic inscriptions accompanying the image reflect a highly refined skill. It takes many years of dedicated practice to master the art of calligraphy, learning to control the brush and ink to create elegant, expressive forms. The artwork's value lies in its meditative qualities, and the time and skill of its making. It is an intimate, handmade object. This challenges the distinction between fine art and craft. It invites us to think about the labor involved in its production, and the artist's deep engagement with materials and process.