An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Landscape in the manner of Ni Zanfirst half 19th century
Artist: Urakami Shunkin
Japanese, 1779 - 1846
tall, foliage covered mountains highlighted with light pink in background; rock formations with small huts at center, one small hut has a small fence; footbridge at R center; small grove of tall trees at lower center, one of the trees has red autumn foliage; open walled hut at LL; boat with fisherman at LR
52 7/16 × 20 13/16 in. (133.19 × 52.86 cm) (image)
95 5/16 × 24 3/8 in. (242.09 × 61.91 cm) (mount, without roller)
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
hanging scroll
Japan
19th century
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture; formerly given to the Center by Elvon Harris and Helen Megan
In the quiet town of Okayama, where cherry blossoms fluttered gently in the spring breeze, a young boy named Urakami Shunkin was discovering his place in the vibrant tapestry of life. He was the eldest son of Urakami Gyokudō, a revered painter whose brush strokes had etched legendary scenes into the canvas of Okayama's cultural history. With the weight of his father's legacy looming over him, Shunkin found himself longing for more than the familial shadows he cast under.
At just sixteen, he made the bold decision to leave behind the familiar streets of Okayama, stepping into the world beyond. His heart was set on Kyoto, then the beating heart of Japanese art. Kyoto was a city alive with color and inspiration, where the delicate whisper of the wind carried tales of artists and scholars who had roamed its temples and gardens. In this new city, with its ancient charm and bustling marketplace, Shunkin looked to breathe life into his own unique vision.
While many Nanga painters of the era sought solace in the reverent echoes of old Chinese and Japanese masters, adhering to the well-trodden paths of their forebears, Shunkin chose a different route. He rejected the confines of imitation, instead turning his gaze to the world around him. Equipped with his sketchbook, he roamed the streets and gardens of Kyoto, capturing fleeting moments and captivating scenes that danced before his eyes. The winding alleyways, the laughter of children, the play of light in a serene pond—these became his muses.
Every stroke of his brush was grounded in reality, his creations blossoming from the raw sketches born out of observation. Shunkin's artistry spoke a new language, one that intertwined the threads of tradition with the pulse of modern life. In a world that often favored the established, he forged his own path, painting not just what was revered, but what was real. His legacy would not just be the paintings he created, but the stories that flowed from his heart and onto the canvas, whispering of a young boy’s quest to find his voice amidst the echoes of history.
About the artist
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