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Landscape in Ni Tsan Style

Hine Taizan

Artwork Details

Landscape in Ni Tsan Style
1867
Hine Taizan
hanging scroll, ink on silk
68 11/16 in. x 33 7/8 in. ( 174.5 cm x 86 cm )
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
1983/2.247

On Display

Not currently on display

Description

Taizan was a native of Hine Village, on the outskirts of Osaka. He initially studied the classical court style of the Tosa School, but switched his alliegance to Chinese literati painting under the influence of the famous calligrapher and scholar Nukina Kaioku (see no. 1).
This landscape is in direct homage to Ni Zan, one of the so-called “four masters” of Yuan literati painting. Ni was known for his fastidious personality, which is reflected in his spare compositions—often split between a foreground island with an empty pavilion and distant hills—and his grudging use of ink. Ni’s paintings tend to be relatively small works on paper that communicate as deeply personal statements; here, Taizan elevates Ni’s style to iconic and public status by reworking it at a monumental scale.
Maribeth Graybill, for the exhibition "Japanese Visions of China," 9/21/02 - 1/26/03

Subject Matter:

This landscape is in direct homage to Ni Zan, one of the so-called “four masters” of Yuan literati painting. Ni was known for his fastidious personality, which is reflected in his spare compositions—often split between a foreground island with an empty pavilion and distant hills—and his grudging use of ink. Ni’s paintings tend to be relatively small works on paper that communicate as deeply personal statements; here, Taizan elevates Ni’s style to iconic and public status by reworking it at a monumental scale.

Physical Description:

A lone pavilion sits among trees in the foreground. Birds flock nearby, and in the background are more trees and rocky formations. Calligraphic texts in in the upper right corner.

Usage Rights:

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