Yatsuhashi (iris and haiku poem)
Sakaki Hyakusen
Description
Sakaki Hyakusen
Japan, 1697–1752
Yatsuhashi (Iris and Haiku Poem)
Edo period (1615–1868)
First half of 18th century
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson
Parker Art Collection Fund, 1969/1.105
This scroll is an example of haiga, a style of painting pioneered by
Sakaki Hyakusen. Haiga typically features a freely painted image
accompanied by a short poem called a haiku, which had no more than
seventeen syllables. This haiga alludes to the famous Yatsuhashi, or
eight-plank bridge, known from both Tales of the Heike and Tales of Ise.
The bridge was located far outside of Kyoto—Japan’s capital until the
mid-nineteenth century—and inspired poems by those who had been
exiled from the capital, who would stop there to mourn for lovers they
had been forced to leave behind. The bridge also became a well-known
motif in painting and decorative arts owing to its complex form and
visually pleasing appearance.
Summer 2024 Gallery Rotation
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This scroll is an example of "haiga," a Japanese style of painting where the freely painted image accompanies a short poem called "haiku." Sakaki Hyakusen was a pioneer of this style. The poem on this scroll is entitled "At Yatshuhashi": On the bridge posts, I laid down my brush, the iris.The spontaneous quality of the brushstrokes can be seen in the iris leaves. Notice how the dark leaf "bleeds" into the lighter one underneath because the srokes were done quickly before the ink had a chance to dry.
Subject Matter:
This scroll is an example of " haiga," a Japanese style of painting where the freely painted image accompanies a short poem called "haiku." Sakaki Hyakusen was a pioneer of this style. The poem on this scroll is entitled "At Yatshuhashi": On the bridge posts, I laid down my brush, the iris. The spontaneous quality of the brushstrokes can be seen in the iris leaves. Notice how the dark leaf "bleeds" into the lighter one underneath because the strokes were done quickly before the ink had a chance to dry.
Physical Description:
There are two iris flowers surrounded by their leaves coming from the bottom left corner of the hanging scroll. In the top middle section of the hanging scroll is a poem.
Usage Rights:
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