large, bold angular calligraphy with curved, wispy brush strokes

Sound of Cold Air, 18th century

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Two characters, one for “cold” and another for “sound,” appear to fuse into one in this work. The word kangoe refers to the sound of singers and monks practicing vocal exercises during cold mornings and nights to strengthen their vocal cords. The elongated form of the writing evokes the long breaths expelled from mouths, visible in cold weather. Kangoe also functions as a seasonal word in the poem and signifies late winter.

Buson was a Japanese poet and Chinese-style painter, and often accompanied his paintings with poems he wrote himself.
寒聲
Sound of cold air
From the poem:
寒声や古うた諷ふ誰が子ぞ
Oh, sound of cold air
whose child could it be
who recites old songs

Details
Title
Sound of Cold Air
Artist Life
1716 - 1783
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.79.247
Catalogue Raisonne
Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 531
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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large, bold angular calligraphy with curved, wispy brush strokes