Evening Clear

Object Details

• Artist

  Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 (1716-1783)

• School/Tradition

  Nanga

• Label

  A brief inscription written in Chinese characters describes the subject of this screen, which is dated 1764 and inscribed with a brief verse: "A fresh breeze sweeps the grass after rain has ceased; the river glows in the setting sun, and fish draw near to men."

  The painter Yosa Buson was among the important artists of mid-eighteenth-century Japan who brought to maturity the style of Nanga-school painting, which was influenced by Chinese painting of the late Ming and Qing dynasties. Especially noteworthy is Buson's ability to portray changing aspects of nature. In this screen and it's pair F1961.4, he evokes contrasting images of similar natural settings. A tranquil mood prevails in Clear Evening on a Willow Bank; whereas, this screen shows willows and grasses swept by brisk winds in a heavy, humid atmosphere. The effect of translucent color is enhanced by the luminous support of satin-weave silk, a material used by some Japanese painters, who adopted the practice of painting on satin from their Chinese contemporaries.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Japanese Screens (March 2007 to January 3, 2016)

  Japanese Screens (May 9, 1993 to November 13, 1995)

  Japanese Screens (February 11, 1983 to July 19, 1988)

  Japanese Art, Galleries 3, 4, and 5 (January 1, 1963 to September 16, 1970)

  Japanese Screen Paintings (March 10, 1961 to January 1, 1963)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Yosa, Buson

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Boats and boating, Art, Scholar, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Men, Willow tree, Japanese Art, Children, Rivers, Fishing

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings