Kenshu, Monk with Shrimp
1620
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1620
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Kenshu, Monk with Shrimp is a 1620 unspecified by Tawaraya Sōtatsu, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This drawing shows a monk in a loose robe, crouching slightly with one hand pointing upward. His face is blurred, and his posture looks active, like he’s gesturing. The background is plain and light, so the dark ink stands out. The monk’s robe has a few brushstrokes that suggest folds, but the style is simple and quick. The red seal in the corner might be the artist’s mark. If you like this style, check out chiaroscuro next—it’s a technique using strong light and shadow.
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋 宗達; c. 1570 – c. 1640) was a Japanese furniture designer and painter of the Rinpa school. Sōtatsu is best known for his decorations of calligraphic works by his partner Hon'ami Kōetsu (1558–1637),…
See the richer artist page
