Accession Number
1987/1.152.2

Title
Bamboo

Artist(s)
Nakabayashi Chikutō

Object Creation Date
1st half of the 19th century

Medium & Support
hanging scroll, ink on paper

Dimensions
37 1/2 in x 11 7/8 in (95.2 cm x 30.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of the Calvin French Collection

Label copy
Chikuto was the son of a doctor from Nagoya. Under the tutelage of a wealthy Chinese painting collector, Chikuto was able to establish his own painting studio at the age of twenty. He was able to organize and publish old Chinese treatises on painting and establish them as theories of the Nanga school. The orderly arrangement and even brushwork of the orchids and bamboo on this pair of scrolls are quiet and tranquil. As a rule, his execution is inclined to be disciplined and conservative.

Subject matter
The orderly arrangement and even brushwork of the orchids and bamboo on this pair of scrolls are quiet and tranquil. As a rule, his execution is inclined to be disciplined and conservative.

"The "four gentlemen" subjects of bamboo, orchid, plum, and chrysanthemum, subjects favoured by Chinese literati as a fitting exercise in ink-play that was very close to calligraphy. "

Addiss, Stephen. Nanga Paintings. London: R. G. Sawers, 1975.

Physical Description
There is a small clump of bamboo rising toward the top of the hanging scroll. There are three stems and a small clump of leaves. In the bottom left corner of the hanging scroll are two seals by the artist.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
hanging scroll

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
bamboo
bamboo (plant)
hanging scrolls
ink
orchid