Who painted 狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu?

狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu was painted by Takuan Sōhō in early 17th century.

Where can I see 狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu?

狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu?

狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu

Takuan Sōhō , 1616

狩野内膳筆沢庵宗彭賛政黄牛・郁山主図|Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Takuan Sōhō. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This pair of ink-on-paper hanging scrolls, titled Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu, was created by the artist Kano Naizen in 1616.

About this work

Technique & Style

Stylistically classified as portraiture, the composition depicts human figures, specifically a man and a monk, alongside a donkey.

Executed in 1616, this pair of hanging scrolls utilizes ink applied on paper as its primary medium. The work is attributed to the artist Kanō Naizen, with inscriptions provided by the monk Takuan Sōhō. Stylistically classified as portraiture, the composition depicts human figures, specifically a man and a monk, alongside a donkey.

The handling of the medium reflects the conventions of Japanese painting from this period, focusing on linear definition and monochromatic tonal variation characteristic of ink wash techniques. The format consists of two distinct vertical scrolls intended for display as a set.

History & Provenance

This paired hanging scroll composition was produced in 1616, with the painting executed by Kanō Naizen and the accompanying inscription composed by Takuan Sōhō. Created in Japan, the work takes the form of ink on paper and depicts a man, a monk, and a donkey, indicating its function as a portrait pair of the two named subjects. The scrolls subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they are presently held.

No further details regarding an original commission, intermediate ownership, or earlier provenance prior to the museum's acquisition are documented in the available sources.

The painting pair is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work was created in Japan in 1616. The provided sources do not specify an inventory or accession number, nor do they record any exhibition history for the scrolls.

Overview

This pair of ink-on-paper hanging scrolls, titled Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu, was created by the artist Kano Naizen in 1616. It portrays two monks, one of whom is the esteemed Zen teacher Takuan Sōhō, riding donkeys. Takuan Sōhō also contributed an inscription to the artwork. The composition captures these figures in a moment of quiet contemplation during their journey.

Subject & Meaning

The scrolls depict two monastic figures traversing a narrow path on donkeys. One monk carries a fan, while the other holds a scroll. The figure on the left is identified as Takuan Sōhō, a prominent Zen master recognized for his teachings on maintaining inner tranquility amidst turmoil.

The artist renders him as if captured in a pensive moment during his travels, reflecting his philosophical disposition.

Context

Created in the early Edo period, this work reflects the intersection of prominent artistic and spiritual figures of its time. Kano Naizen belonged to the influential Kano school of painting, known for its diverse commissions. The inclusion of Takuan Sōhō, a highly respected Zen teacher and advisor, as both a subject and an inscriber, underscores the cultural importance of Zen Buddhism and its practitioners in 17th-century Japan.