Sketches by Ichirō 1823

Here we see an unbound book of sketches by Yajima Ichiro, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which draws us into a study of form. The work utilizes simple lines and muted colors. The composition across the two pages is split between the natural landscape and domestic tranquility. Notice how Ichiro uses line to create texture and depth. In the landscape, lines create rippling water and undulating hills, offering a sense of movement. This contrasts sharply with the second page. Here, the horizontal lines of the structure create a static scene. The use of line work establishes a sense of place and being, one in motion and the other in rest. The interplay between these elements invites a deeper consideration into how Ichiro perceives his environment. It is a study in contrasts, between form and line, which generates meaning. How does this formal structure reflect a broader cultural understanding of nature versus domesticity?