Poems by Thirty-Six Immortal Poets

Object Details

• Artist

  Hon'ami Koetsu 本阿弥光悦 (1558-1637)

• Description

  Verses by each of thirty-six master poets are inscribed on decorated sheets mounted in a folding album. Each leaf is hand painted with a different design in gold on a shimmering mica-coated background. Over these designs the calligrapher Koetsu, whose work was greatly admired by Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), has written famous verses. His distinctive calligraphic style, combining fluidity with strong control of composition and internal structure, is apparent in this work. The slight tremulous brushwork indicates tht this album was created late in Koetsu's life.

  A poem composed by Mibu no Tadamine (died ca. 920) is inscribed over the design of rocks among waves:

  As the years pass, the white mountains grow older,/gathering the snow of many winters.

• Inscriptions

  A poem composed by Mibu no Tadamine (died ca. 920) is inscribed over the design of rocks among waves:

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Seasons: Arts of Japan (February 5, 2011 to January 13, 2013)

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

  Japanese Calligraphy (April 18, 1977 to September 13, 1977)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Calligraphy

• 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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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1600s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Hon'ami, Koetsu

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)