A Mountain Spring is a Good Friend

1918

Japanese, 1865-1944

As an amateur painter, Kodôjin felt free to construct inventive compositions for the literati theme of idyllic life in nature. Here he placed his scholar in a tiny hut surrounded by foliage almost at the top of the painting. The barely discernible hermitage overlooks a mountain valley with a rocky stream, which disappears at the bottom of the painting behind a tree with massive, black foliage. The contrast of shimmering satin against heavy applications of rich black ink imparts a note of elegance to this novel painting. A poet of considerable reputation, Kodôjin has divided the painting vertically, giving almost equal attention to his poetic inscription.

Ink on satin

87 3/16 x 26 1/4 in. (221.5 x 66.7cm)

Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum

2010.41.48

Photo: Eduardo Calderon

Not currently on view

Resources

Published ReferencesMorioka, Michiyo; Berry, Paul. "Modern Masters of Kyoto: The Transformation of Japanese Painting Traditions," Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1999, p. 220, illus. 62.

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