Trees 雑木林図屏風

Object Details

• Artist

  Master of I-nen Seal (1600-1630)

• School/Tradition

  Rinpa

• Label

  At least eight varieties of trees have been identified in the screens F1962.30-31, reflecting a growing interest at that time among educated Japanese in natural history classification. Yet even with careful attention to botanical accuracy, the painter offers no suggestion of spatial relationship between the trees. Indeed, the real subject of the painting is jarring contrast: realism in form but not space, dramatic asymmetry, and bold color contrast.

  The circular vermilion seals, reading "I'nen" and seen on the extreme left and right panels of this screen set, were used by the Kyoto painter Tawaraya Sotatsu (active circa 1600-1640) and by several generations of his followers. Sotatsu's follower, Sosetsu (active 1630-50) is a strong candidate as the user of these "I'nen" seals. He migrated from Kyoto to serve Lord Maeda, head of the family who ruled Kaga Province, north of Kyoto; these screens were likely commissioned for the Maeda family.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Sotatsu: Making Waves (Saturday, October 24, 2015 to Sunday, January 31, 2016)

  Japanese Screens (March 2007 to January 3, 2016)

  Japanese Art in the Age of Koetsu (June 6, 1998 to February 15, 1999)

  Japanese Screens (August 13, 1997 to May 4, 1998)

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

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

  Rimpa Screens (October 9, 1980 to December 21, 1981)

  Japanese Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

  Japanese Art—Painted Screens (August 18, 1967 to May 2, 1973)

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

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

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

  I-nen Seal, Master of

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Trees, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Edo period, Japan, 1600-1868

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings