Pulling Boat in Early Spring
ca.1917
This scene of a boat amongst willows evokes the literati painting traditions of Japan and China. The burgeoning willow foliage indicates spring, and the lively activities along the riverbank mirror the renewed energy of the season. A blue-robed scholar in a small pavilion allows the viewer to imagine an intimate perspective on the landscape, while birds flying through the middle ground lend a sense of expansiveness to the image.
Ink and light colors on silk
80 1/8 x 22 1/8 in. (203.5 x 56.2 cm)
Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2010.41.40
Photo: Eduardo Calderon