Strolling in the Mountains
Soga Shōhaku
Description
Subject Matter:
Soga Shōhaku was originally trained in the Kanō school, but is mostly known for his revival of Muromachi period (1333-1573) styles of ink painting that drew from Song (960-1279) and Ming dynasty (1368-1644) works that were imported from China at the time. Images of figures traveling through monocromatic landscapes were derrived from Chinese painting traditions, and would have been understood as "kara-e" or "Chinese pictures" as a separate stylistic mode than "yamato-e" or "Japanese pictures".
Physical Description:
This hanging scroll depicts a man walking along a mountainous path overlooking a group of buildings and distant mountains. In the foreground, the figure moves to the left, and is placed before a large tree growing out of the rocks. The middle of the painting is dominated by a diagonal line created by the roofs of various structures leading to three larger mountain peaks, indicated with light gray washes.
Usage Rights:
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