Who painted Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple?

Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple was painted by Ike Taiga in 1704.

Where can I see Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple?

Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple?

Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple is associated with Nihonga.

Artwork

Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple

Ike Taiga , 1704

Illustration of Zhang Qi's Poem on the Cold Mountain Temple is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Ike Taiga. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1992.386
Credit line: Bequest of Maud Eells Corning

About this work

Overview

Created around 1704, this landscape by the Japanese painter Ike Taiga is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work illustrates a tranquil mountain setting, rendered in muted blues and grays with occasional red accents on the foliage. A narrow path winds through the trees toward a modest temple perched on a distant hill, conveying a sense of quiet retreat.

Subject & Meaning

The composition functions as a visual meditation on solitude and the natural world. By pairing the scenery with a poem inscribed in Japanese along the upper margin, Taiga merges image and verse, inviting viewers to contemplate the harmony between landscape and lyrical expression. The temple’s remote placement underscores themes of withdrawal and contemplation.

Technique & Style

Taiga employs a restrained palette of pale blues, soft grays, and subtle reds, applying ink washes that suggest mist and atmospheric depth. Brushwork is delicate, allowing trees and rocks to emerge with minimal strokes, characteristic of the literati tradition that values spontaneity and the expression of the artist’s inner feeling over realistic detail.

History & Provenance

The painting, attributed to Ike Taiga, a prominent figure of the Edo‑period bunjin (literati) movement, entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the late 20th century. Its dating to circa 1704 aligns with Taiga’s mature period, when he was actively integrating poetry and painting.

Context

Ike Taiga was known for synthesizing Chinese scholarly painting techniques with Japanese aesthetics, often embedding his own poetry within his works. This piece exemplifies that practice, reflecting the broader cultural emphasis on the unity of the visual and literary arts among Japanese intellectuals of the early 18th century.