Moon over an Autumn Moor 1500 - 1573

Kano Yukinobu created this hanging scroll, *Moon over an Autumn Moor*, with ink, color, and gold on paper in sixteenth-century Japan. The scroll's narrow, vertical format immediately suggests a specific viewing context, perhaps a domestic interior. The work’s material influences its appearance through its inherent qualities of texture and color. The painting of a fan, rendered in gold, dominates the composition. This suggests that the fan itself was seen as a precious, decorative item, worthy of artistic representation. The application of gold leaf requires great skill, building on traditions of calligraphy and painting. The artist engaged with these skilled traditions and aesthetics. Consider how the artist transformed ephemeral, everyday objects into lasting works of art. This approach elevates the status of craft and design, challenging the traditional hierarchy that separates them from fine art. This work reminds us that the value of an object lies not only in its materials but also in the labor, skill, and cultural context that shape its creation.