Spring landscape with willow trees and houses by a shore
Yamamoto Baiitsu
Description
Subject Matter:
A subject of many myths and legends, representing fertility and new life, willow trees are an important piece of Japanese culture. Originally from China, they can be difficult to find in Japan and only live near waterways.
The artist, Yamamoto Baiistsu paints in a "boneless" manner, which consists of a conservative outline and light wash of colors, as we see somewhat here. He offered a softer, lighter, and more intimate view of the Nanga or Literati style painting.
Physical Description:
This hanging scroll depicts what the title suggests, a spring landscape with willow trees and houses by a shore. The shore snakes up the center of the painting with the land being on the right and the water on the left. The willow trees line the coast and in the center of the painting are four or five roofed buildings, assumed to be houses. As we move up the coast the land becomes to form a hill and rises dramatically in altitude with fewer obviously visible willow trees and no buildings. The coast gets fuzzier as it gets further away suggesting the presence of trees. There are mountains in the distance. On the upper left is a three-line inscription in black followed by two red seals.
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