Who painted Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō?

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō was painted by Kiyohara Yukinobu in 1676-01-01.

Where can I see Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō?

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō?

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō by Kiyohara Yukinobu (1676)

About this work

History & Provenance

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō, a painting created in 1676 by Kiyohara Yukinobu, is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The painting Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō was created by the Japanese artist Kiyohara Yukinobu in 1676. Yukinobu, who lived from 1643 to 1682, produced this work in Japan during the late seventeenth century. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1992.77.1.

While the specific commission details and original ownership chain prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation date is firmly established as 1676. The piece depicts a scene involving Minamoto no Nakakuni and Lady Kogō within a setting that includes trees and a thatched roof, reflecting the narrative and stylistic conventions of Yukinobu's period.

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō, a painting created in 1676 by Kiyohara Yukinobu, is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1992.77.1. While the artwork depicts a scene featuring a tree and a thatched roof, specific records regarding its exhibition history are not detailed in the available documentation.

The piece originates from Japan and remains a significant example of the artist's work from the late 17th century within the museum's holdings.

Context

Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō is a 1676 Edo-period painting attributed to Kiyohara Yukinobu, classified as a narrative work in the Yamato-e tradition. The piece, held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, portrays a tree and a thatched roof, reflecting domestic themes typical of the period. Its creation in Japan and inclusion in a major museum collection have made it a reference point for scholarship on 17th‑century Japanese narrative painting, illustrating the artistic exchange between courtly literature and visual culture.

Overview

Kiyohara Yukinobu's painting, Minamoto no Nakakuni Visits Lady Kogō, created in 1688, captures a narrative scene. The artwork, now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, illustrates a moment of encounter, featuring a traveler on horseback approaching a secluded dwelling. Its composition highlights both human interaction and natural elements like trees and a distinctive thatched roof, characteristic of traditional Japanese settings.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a figure in green robes, identified as Minamoto no Nakakuni, riding a horse along a dirt path. His black hat and red saddle provide visual accents. In the background, a humble thatched-roof hut sits on a hill, partially obscured by a fence.

Within the dwelling, two figures are visible on a bed, one covered by blankets, suggesting an intimate or private moment that the visitor is approaching.

Technique & Style

Yukinobu employed a distinct artistic approach characterized by simple, defined shapes and a palette of flat, unmodulated colors. The work lacks deep shadows or textural rendering, contributing to its graphic quality. A dynamic contrast is evident between the swift motion conveyed by the horse and rider and the serene, static depiction of the hut and its surroundings, framed by a bare tree with red blossoms and a pine.