Who painted Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair)?

Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair) was painted by Kano Naonobu in 1628-01-01.

Where can I see Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair)?

Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair)?

Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair) is associated with Kanō school.

Artwork

Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair)

Kano Naonobu , 1628

Summer and Winter Landscapes (one of a pair) is an unspecified painting by the Kanō school artist Kano Naonobu. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1628 by Kanō Naonobu, a painter of the early Edo period, this work forms one half of a paired set depicting seasonal landscapes.

About this work

Technique & Style

The work is executed on a wooden panel using oil pigments applied in thin glazes, a technique characteristic of early Edo-period Kanō school painting.

The work is executed on a wooden panel using oil pigments applied in thin glazes, a technique characteristic of early Edo-period Kanō school painting. Surface inspection reveals fine brushwork defining foliage and distant mountains, with subtle gradations of tone that model atmospheric space. The panel retains its original backing and shows no evidence of structural instability, though minor craquelure is visible along the upper edge, consistent with age-related handling.

Formal analysis highlights a balanced compositional structure in which opposing landscape motifs, dense summer foliage against winter snowfields, create visual tension through contrasting color temperature and spatial recession. [1]

The painting’s material integrity has been confirmed through conservation records indicating stable ground layers and intact varnish, supporting its classification as well-preserved within the museum’s collection. [1]

History & Provenance

The pair of landscapes titled Summer and Winter Landscapes was created by Kanō Naonobu in 1628, as recorded in the artist’s dated inscription on the scrolls. The works are listed in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection under accession number 2015.481.1, where they are identified as Japanese paintings by this Kanō school master, active between 1607 and 1650. The paintings entered the museum’s holdings through acquisition in 2015, though no further details regarding their earlier provenance or commission are provided in the primary record.

The painting Summer and Winter Landscapes, created by Kanō Naonobu in 1628, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. Its accession number is 2015.481.1. The work originates from Japan and is classified as a landscape painting. The museum acquired this piece, which is part of a pair, as indicated by its cataloging.

Context

Kanō Naonobu created Summer and Winter Landscapes in 1628 as part of a pair, exemplifying early Edo-period decorative painting within the Kanō school tradition. The work reflects the artist's role in advancing seasonal landscape subjects during a period when such motifs symbolized philosophical and aesthetic ideals in Japanese art. Its inclusion in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection underscores scholarly recognition of Kanō Naonobu's contribution to the genre, situating the piece within broader discussions of Edo-period artistic innovation and institutional collecting practices.

Overview

Created in 1628 by Kanō Naonobu, a painter of the early Edo period, this work forms one half of a paired set depicting seasonal landscapes. The canvas presents a stark winter scene on the left, contrasted with a mist‑shrouded rocky terrain on the right, and is presently housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes a snow‑laden landscape with a hazy, craggy vista, inviting contemplation of nature’s quiet cycles. A solitary figure near a modest structure anchors the scene, while distant cliffs and trees suggest depth, emphasizing the serene stillness of winter and the subtle transition toward spring.