Artwork
Fragrant Garden under a Hazy Moon
Fragrant Garden under a Hazy Moon is an unspecified painting by the Nanga artist Chikutō Nakabayashi. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1843 by Japanese painter Chikutō Nakabayashi, Fragrant Garden under a Hazy Moon exemplifies the nanga, or bunjinga, tradition of literati painting. Executed on silk, the work presents a moonlit garden populated by figures in traditional attire, set among trees, rocks, a bridge, and a distant cave. The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently holds the piece in its collection.
Subject & Meaning
Groups of people are shown seated, standing, or strolling, suggesting a communal gathering or a poetic promenade.
The composition portrays a quiet garden scene bathed in a diffuse lunar glow. Groups of people are shown seated, standing, or strolling, suggesting a communal gathering or a poetic promenade. The inclusion of natural elements, rock formations, a stream, and foliage, alongside the hazy moon underscores a contemplative relationship between humanity and the surrounding landscape, a common theme in literati art.
Technique & Style
Nakabayashi employs the ink-and-color brushwork typical of nanga, favoring expressive strokes over strict realism. The muted palette and soft rendering of the moonlight create an atmospheric haze, while the delicate detailing of figures and architectural features reflects the artist’s training in Chinese-inspired literati aesthetics. The balance of empty space and detailed forms conveys a sense of lyrical restraint.
History & Provenance
Born in the early 19th century, Nakabayashi was known by several art names, including Chūtan and Taigen’an, and was active within the Japanese literati circles that embraced Chinese scholarly painting. Fragrant Garden under a Hazy Moon entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the late 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nakabayashi Chikutō, originally Nariaki (Japanese:中林 竹洞; (1776, Nagoya - 27 April 1853, Kyoto) was a Japanese painter in the nanga style. His other art names include Chūtan (沖澹), Taigen’an (太原庵) and Tōzan Inshi (東山隠士).
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