White Chrysanthemums

Object Details

• Artist

  Otagaki Rengetsu 大田垣蓮月 (1791-1875)

• Description

  In elegant Japanese cursive "hiragana" calligraphy distinguished by its free, open forms and composition, the artist has written a Japanese "waka" verse of her own composition. Her use of very dry ink makes the lines seem ephemeral. The poem reads:

  shiragiku no

  makura ni chikaku

  kaoru yo wa

  yume mo ikuyo no

  aki kaeruran

  White chrysanthemums

  near my pillow

  perfume the night

  these dreams of many nights of

  autumn will not return

  Painted below is a spray of white chrysanthemums, painted in ink with subtle tints of blue and reddish brown tones. The composition completes the calligraphy above in scale and mood.

• Inscriptions

  1. From seller's invoice, 24 June 1997) Signed: "Rengetsu"; Box inscribed on outside: "Rengetsu roni jigasan" (Old nun Rengetsu's painting and inscription); Box inscribed on inside; "Shiragiku no makura ni chikaku, un'un..., Jinkoin ro Nojoen ninshi" First line of the poem, then (Old Nojoen of the Jinkoin authorized this.)

• Label

  Above her sketch of a blossoming chrysanthemum plant supported by a bamboo stake, the Buddhist nun Rengetsu inscribed a poem of her own composition:

  White chrysanthemums

  Near my pillow

  Perfume the night.

  These dreams of many nights of

  Autumn will not return.

  Rengetsu took Buddhist vows at the age of thirty-three, following a series of personal tragedies. She studied poetry composition with several Kyoto authorities and became well known not only for her verses but also for inscribing them on her own handmade ceramic teapots and bowls.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Tea for...Everyone: Popular Ceramics for Drinking Tea in Japan (March 8 to October 19, 2008)

  The Tea Ceremony in Japan XII (July 2, 2000 to February 4, 2001)

• Origin

  Kyoto, 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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  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1880s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1840s, 1690s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Otagaki, Rengetsu

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan

• Topic

  Cursive script, Art, Autumn, Chrysanthemum, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings