A Mountain Spring is a Good Friend
1918
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 66.7 cm)
Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2010.41.48
Photo: Eduardo Calderon
