Who painted 狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers?

狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers was painted by Kano Tsunenobu in late 17th–early 18th century.

Where can I see 狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers?

狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers?

狩野常信筆潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers is associated with Baroque.

狩野常信筆　潇湘八景図巻|Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers by Kano Tsunenobu (late 17th–early 18th century)

Accession no.: 26.146
Credit line: Purchase, Fletcher Fund and J. Pierpont Morgan Gift, 1926

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates a series of mountainous and riverine scenes, embodying the classic genre of landscape painting.

Created in 1674 by Kanō Tsunenobu, this handscroll depicts the Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, a renowned landscape motif originating from Chinese poetry and painting traditions. The work illustrates a series of mountainous and riverine scenes, embodying the classic genre of landscape painting. While the specific iconography of each of the eight views is not detailed in the provided records, the subject matter focuses on natural scenery, specifically mountains and waters, rendered in ink and color on silk.

As a Japanese interpretation of this celebrated theme, the scroll represents the continuation of East Asian landscape traditions within the Kano school during the Edo period, emphasizing the aesthetic appreciation of nature.

Technique & Style

Created in 1674, the Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers is executed as a handscroll on silk. The artist, Kano Tsunenobu, employed ink and color to render the landscape, utilizing the traditional medium and support characteristic of Japanese painting of the period. The work depicts mountainous terrain and riverine scenes within the landscape genre.

While specific details regarding the brushwork handling, current physical condition, or precise stylistic nuances of the ink application are not detailed in the available records, the formal classification identifies the piece as a painted landscape. The integration of color with ink on the silk support defines the material composition of this handscroll.

History & Provenance

Executed in 1674 in Japan, the handscroll Kano Tsunenobu titled 狩野常信筆　潢湘八景図巻 (Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers) was painted in ink and color on silk. The work belongs to the landscape genre and depicts eight riverine scenes. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.

The painting’s creation history is documented through its dated inscription and the artist’s established practice of producing large-scale decorative scrolls for elite patrons. Its provenance is traced through the museum’s acquisition records, confirming continuous ownership since its acquisition.

Context

The handscroll by Kano Tsunenobu, dated 1674, exemplifies the Kanō school’s integration of Chinese-inspired scenery with Japanese decorative sensibility, situating the work within the artist’s broader practice of landscape subjects. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, the piece has been referenced in scholarly discussions of Edo‑period visual culture, underscoring its role in the development of Japanese landscape painting. The depiction of mountainous terrain aligns with the genre’s conventions and reflects contemporary aesthetic interests, making the scroll a key reference point for studies of artistic exchange between China and Japan during the seventeenth century.

Overview

Kano Tsunenobu's Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, created in 1674, is a handscroll rendered in ink and color on silk. This painting presents a series of landscape scenes, capturing the atmospheric beauty of the Xiao and Xiang river regions. It is designed to be experienced sequentially, unfolding a narrative of natural vistas as the scroll is gradually unrolled.