Who painted Painting from Flowers and Grasses?

Painting from Flowers and Grasses was painted by Tsubaki Chinzan in 1841.

Where can I see Painting from Flowers and Grasses?

Painting from Flowers and Grasses is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Painting from Flowers and Grasses?

Painting from Flowers and Grasses is associated with Nihonga.

Can I buy a print of Painting from Flowers and Grasses?

Museum-quality prints of Painting from Flowers and Grasses are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Painting from Flowers and Grasses

Tsubaki Chinzan , 1841

Painting from Flowers and Grasses is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Tsubaki Chinzan. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1976.56.f
Credit line: Cornelia Blakemore Warner Fund

About this work

Overview

Tsubaki Chinzan’s 1841 still‑life, titled Painting from Flowers and Grasses, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a solitary plant rendered against a muted beige ground, its composition bounded by a narrow gold strip that frames the image.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a single herbaceous stem bearing long, undulating green leaves and three delicate blossoms, two fully opened and one in bud. The restrained arrangement emphasizes the natural form of the plant, inviting quiet contemplation of its simple beauty.

Technique & Style

Chinzan employs soft, fluid brushwork to convey the translucency of the petals and the gentle curvature of the foliage. The subtle tonal transitions and the restrained palette reflect a refined approach typical of Edo‑period botanical studies, while the gold border adds a decorative, almost calligraphic touch.

History & Provenance

Created in 1841, the painting entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its solitary panel suggests it may have originally formed part of a diptych, although no counterpart is currently documented.

Preface from Flowers and Grasses, Tsubaki Chinzan

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Artist & collection

Artist

Tsubaki Chinzan

Tsubaki Chinzan, originally Tasuku was a Japanese painter in the nanga style. His other art names include Hekiin Sambō, Kyūan (休庵), Shikyūan (四休庵) and Takukadō (琢華堂).