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Snow

Dateca.1890

Maker Mori Kansai Japanese, 1814 - 1894

Label TextThe painting theme of winter snow, autumn moon and spring flowers—inevitably cherry blossoms—is a time-honored one in Japan. Known as setsugekka, this seasonal theme was often combined with pictures of famous places. In this lyrical triptych, the artist has largely followed convention, but has limited his geographic range to Kyoto and vicinity. Thus, from right to left, he depicts the moon reflected on the Uji River, with the hipped roofs of Byôdôin Temple visible along the riverbank. In the center is an exquisite snow-covered hillside with two deer and two cedars at right. At left are the blossoming cherries at Arashiyama, visible between the pine trees and partly obscured by mist. A single boatman steers a raft downriver, a common motif associated with the Arashiyama landscape of Western Kyoto.

Object number2010.41.9.1

Published ReferencesMichiyo, Morioka; Berry, Paul. "Modern Masters of Kyoto: The Transformation of Japanese Painting Traditions," Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1999, p. 72, illus. 5.

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

Dimensions71 5/16 x 11 7/8 in. (181.1 x 30.2 cm)

MediumHanging scroll: ink and light colors on silk