Beneath the Willow
1778
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
1778
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Beneath the Willow is a 1778 unspecified by Tsukioka Sessai, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
Two women relax by a river under a willow tree. One dips a towel in the water; the other fans herself, a tobacco set beside her on a shiny black tray. This quiet moment is from the Edo period, when artists in Japan often painted beautiful women in everyday scenes. The gold flowers on the tray catch the light—small details like this were prized in ukiyo-e prints. To see more of this style, look up *japan, edo period (1615–1868)*.
Two young women cool themselves by a river as a willow blows in the breeze. One crouches down to rinse a hand towel, while the other sits with her chin balanced on her fan. Beside her is a black lacquer tray with a floral design in gold, holding her tobacco kit. Tsukioka Tessai was an Osaka-based ukiyo-e artist who was especially respected for his representations of beautiful women ( bijin ). The court bestowed upon him the rank Bridge of the Law ( hokyo ) in 1778, and he was eventually elevated in rank to Eye of the Law ( hogen ).
The willow tree may refer to the contemporary Edo fashion for elongated "willowy" beauties.
Read the full account in the museum source.
