Artwork

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy, by Ike Taiga, unspecified
Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy, by Ike Taiga, unspecified

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Ike Taiga. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1800 by Kyoto‑born artist and calligrapher Ike no Taiga, this two‑panel scroll combines ink calligraphy with a modest landscape.

About this work

Technique & Style

The flat support, likely handmade paper, contributes to the work's delicate surface handling, allowing subtle gradations of ink wash to remain visible.

The work is an ink-on-paper landscape painting created in Japan in 1800, employing traditional brushwork and calligraphic elements typical of Edo-period genre scenes. Its composition balances atmospheric tonal gradations with precise line work to convey depth and movement, reflecting an engagement with both pictorial and scriptural forms. The flat support, likely handmade paper, contributes to the work's delicate surface handling, allowing subtle gradations of ink wash to remain visible. These stylistic choices underscore a synthesis of landscape depiction and poetic inscription characteristic of the period.

History & Provenance

Created in 1800 and attributed to the Japanese artist Ike no Taiga, Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy is a landscape painting produced in Japan. The work resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which serves as its known location and holding institution. No further details regarding specific commissions, prior ownership chains, or the circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records.

Overview

Created in 1800 by Kyoto‑born artist and calligrapher Ike no Taiga, this two‑panel scroll combines ink calligraphy with a modest landscape. The work belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Taiga’s engagement with the bunjinga, or literati, tradition.

Subject & Meaning

The painted portion depicts a tranquil mountain village at dusk, with a waterway, modest dwellings, and sparse trees rendered in muted gray‑brown hues. The accompanying ink inscription, set against a light background and framed by a red border, provides a literary complement typical of scholar‑artist works, linking visual observation with poetic reflection.

Context

Ike no Taiga, together with poet‑painter Yosa Buson, advanced the bunjinga genre in Japan, drawing heavily on classical Chinese aesthetics while introducing innovative compositional approaches. This scroll illustrates that synthesis, pairing scholarly inscription with a modest, atmospheric landscape.

Mountain and Calligraphy
Mountain and Calligraphy, Ike Taiga

Artist & collection

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy?

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy was painted by Ike Taiga in 1800-01-01.

Where can I see Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy?

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy?

Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy is associated with Nihonga.

Can I buy a print of Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy?

Museum-quality prints of Evening Glow in a Mountain Village and Calligraphy are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.