Accession Number
1964/2.63

Title
Scholar Strolling in the Mountains

Artist(s)
Unknown artist (formerly attributed to Unkoku T

Object Creation Date
18th century - 19th century

Medium & Support
hanging scroll, ink on paper

Dimensions
17 3/8 in x 6 15/16 in (44.1 cm x 17.6 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Subject matter
"The Unkoku school was founded by Unkoku Togan (1547-1618) who probably studied under a disciple of Sesshu Toyo (1420-1506). Togan considered himself Sesshu's heir, and after successfully defending his claim against his rival. Hasegawa Tohaku (1539-1610), called himself Sesshu Toyo III."
"Unkoku Togan had taken Sesshu's painting style and simplified it by increasing the tonal contrast of ink tones and exaggerating many of the compositional elements. His bold, dynamic paintings typified the grandeur of the Momoyama period. Under Toeki, these traits were softened slightly, in part due to the influence of the powerful Kano school of painting. This landscape is characteristic of the Unkoku school in its sharp tonal contrasts and dramatic composition."
"In the lower left corner are two seals that resemble Toeki's most frequently used seals. These seals vary significantly from those of the same design usually found on Toeki's paintings. A repaired hole at the upper right corner may indicate the removal of a seal or signature. However, the high quality of the painting and its stylistic similarity to Toeki's work suggest that it may be by his hand or painted by one of his immediate followers. The rough patterning of brushwork in the rocks, the decisive outlining of major forms and contrasting ink tones that exaggerate the effect of spatial recession combine to make this landscape an excellent example of early Unkoku style."

Adams, Celeste, and Paul Berry. Heart, Mountains, and Human Ways: Japanese Landscape and Figure Painting: a Loan Exhibition from the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Museum of Fine Arts, 1983.

 

Physical Description

"This landscape is characteristic of the Unkoku school in its sharp tonal contrasts and dramatic composition. The right side is dominated by a jutting sheer cliff face whose magnitude is suggested by the tall trees emerging from its side. In the far distance are other rugged peaks that tower over unseen valleys. In the foreground stands a scholar with a staff viewing the spectacle before him. His young attendant holds the scholar's favorite instrument, the Chinese ch'in. In the middleground a small open air pavilion under two pine trees punctuates a flat stretch of peninsula, and beyond, a fluttering wine flag invites thoughts of leisure and refreshment.
In the lower left corner are two seals that resemble Toeki'smost frequently used seals." 

Adams, Celeste, and Paul Berry. Heart, Mountains, and Human Ways: Japanese Landscape and Figure Painting: a Loan Exhibition from the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Museum of Fine Arts, 1983.

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
Japan
Landscapes
figures in landscape
hanging scroll
hanging scrolls
ink
lakes
lakes (bodies of water)
mountain landscapes (visual works)
mountains
pines
scholars
travelers
travelers (people by activity)
trees