Courtiers approaching Nakoso barrier, inscribed with a verse from the anthology Senzai wakashu

Object Details

• Artist

  Tomioka Tessai 富岡鉄斎 (1836-1924)

• Description

  Described by Linda A. Izzo, Christie's, on 28 May 1992 as "General Yoshiie at Nakoso no seki," and as "associated with a calligraphy by Ono Kozan (fl. early 20th century)" [F1992.23].

  In a fitted wooden box inscribed the artist (with F1992.23). See "Inscriptions."

  For additional descriptions see Comments.

• Inscriptions

  1. (Kate Theimer, 8 April 1996) Described by Linda A. Izzo, Christie's, on 28 May 1992 as "signed Nanaju-ichi o Tessai Gaishi, sealed Tomioka Hyakuren and another seal."

  In a fitted wooden box inscribed by the artist (with F1992.23): "dated Meiji 39 (1906), signed Tessai Gaishi jidai toki toshi Nanajuichi, and sealed Tomioka Hyakaren."

• Label

  Swift, spontaneous brush strokes delineate a simple scene of a courtier and his small retinue approaching a mountain barrier gate. Light touches of pink depict cherry blossoms, a motif repeated in the decorated square near the top that represents a shikishi, a sheet of paper for inscribing a single verse of Japanese poetry. The quoted poem comes from the anthology, Senzai wakashu (Collection of Japanese Poems of a Thousand Years), compiled in the 1180s by order of Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-1192). The poem composed by Minamoto Yoshi'ie (1039-1106) reads:

  Although I know

  the wind blows

  at Nakoso Barrier,

  how the mountain cherry blossoms

  narrow the path!

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Tales and Legends in Japanese Art (June 21, 2003 to January 4, 2004)

  Japanese Art of the Meiji Era (September 20, 1997 to April 26, 1998)

  Japanese Art (April 13 to November 21, 1995)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Lawrence and Sonia Klein

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1900s

• Name

  Tomioka, Tessai

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Ivory, Japanese Art, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings