Artwork
Autumn Evening with Full Moon on Musashino Plain
Autumn Evening with Full Moon on Musashino Plain is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts an expansive, level plain under a muted yellow sky.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts an expansive, level plain under a muted yellow sky. Tall grasses ripple in a gentle breeze, punctuated by a few white blossoms that contrast with the surrounding green. The terrain appears damp, its surface reflecting a dark, moonlit glow, while a thin black line frames the composition.
Subject & Meaning
A full moon hovers low over the Musashino plain, its light diffused rather than dominant, lending the scene a tranquil ambience. The subtle interplay of wind‑tossed grasses and reflected moonlight suggests a moment of quiet contemplation within an ordinary landscape.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a restrained palette of soft yellows, greens, and whites, applying washes that convey both the moisture of the ground and the delicate illumination of the night sky. Thin, linear borders delineate the picture plane, reinforcing the flatness of the vista.
Context
Created as a genre landscape, the painting reflects a Japanese aesthetic that values understated beauty and the fleeting qualities of light. Its serene atmosphere aligns with traditional depictions of seasonal change, emphasizing the quiet transition of autumn evenings on the Musashino plain.
Artist & collection
White Poppies on Gold Ground
武蔵野図屏風|The Plains of Musashi
Flowering Plants and Vegetables of the Four Seasons
Anthology of Japanese and Chinese Poems (Wakan rōeishū) with Underpainting of Arrowroot Vines
Flowers of All Seasons
Flowers and Trees of the Four Seasons (right screen)
伝土佐光茂筆 芥子図屏風|Red and White Poppies
Untitled
