Accession Number
2003/1.393

Title
Spring landscape with willow trees and houses by a shore

Artist(s)
Yamamoto Baiitsu

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1810-1856

Medium & Support
ink and light color on silk

Dimensions
54 1/4 in. x 23 3/8 in. ( 137.8 cm x 59.4 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Helmut Stern

Subject matter
A subject of many myths and legends, representing fertility and new life, willow trees are an important piece of Japanese culture. Originally from China, they can be difficult to find in Japan and only live near waterways. 
The artist, Yamamoto Baiistsu paints in a "boneless" manner, which consists of a conservative outline and light wash of colors, as we see somewhat here. He offered a softer, lighter, and more intimate view of the Nanga or Literati style painting. 

Physical Description
This hanging scroll depicts what the title suggests, a spring landscape with willow trees and houses by a shore. The shore snakes up the center of the painting with the land being on the right and the water on the left. The willow trees line the coast and in the center of the painting are four or five roofed buildings, assumed to be houses. As we move up the coast the land becomes to form a hill and rises dramatically in altitude with fewer obviously visible willow trees and no buildings. The coast gets fuzzier as it gets further away suggesting the presence of trees. There are mountains in the distance. On the upper left is a three-line inscription in black followed by two red seals. 

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.