Rain Over the Stream, first half 19th century
Yanagawa Seiganexpand_more
Hanging scroll; ink on paperexpand_more
Gift of Stephen Addiss and Audrey Yoshiko Seoexpand_more 2013.63.38
Not on Viewexpand_more
Thick, undulating brushstrokes crowd together on paper, some trailing off like the tail of a cloud. Written in cursive script, the sharp edges of characters turn into circles and curved lines. Unlike calligraphy in the standard style, the size and spacing of the characters changes spontaneously, creating a visual rhythm on the paper. Although
written in four lines of varying lengths, the poem is a quatrain of seven characters each, a typical Chinese poetry format. Yanagawa was a well-known kanshi poet master and associated with figures like Fujita Tōko, whose rubbing is on display in this gallery.
十年孤負水雲期
満面黄沙両鬂絲手
把琴絃心語口世間
能有幾人知
For ten years I have idled my time alone like floating clouds,
On my face of yellow sand, both sideburns have turned to
cotton.
Holding my qin, I converse with my heart:
In this world, who can know this feeling'
(Trans. adapted from Stephen Addiss)
Details
- Title
- Rain Over the Stream
- Artist Life
- 1789 - 1858
- Role
- Calligrapher
- Accession Number
- 2013.63.38
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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