Artwork
Farming and Herding Buffalo in Summer
Farming and Herding Buffalo in Summer is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1562 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents an expansive, gently undulating terrain traversed by winding paths.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a summer scene of agricultural labor involving buffalo, reflecting pastoral themes common in East Asian visual culture. It may symbolize abundance and the cyclical nature of seasonal work within agrarian societies. The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Farming and Herding Buffalo in Summer is a painting dated to 1562, attributed to Kanō Jōshin (Hideyori), a Japanese artist active from around 1540.
Farming and Herding Buffalo in Summer is a painting dated to 1562, attributed to Kanō Jōshin (Hideyori), a Japanese artist active from around 1540. The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 2015.594. The painting entered the museum's holdings in 2015, as indicated by the accession number, and no earlier ownership history or commission details are documented in the available sources.
The sources provide only the inception date of 1562 and the current institutional custody, without information on prior owners, commissioning patrons, or intermediate provenance steps.
Farming and Herding Buffalo in Summer is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under accession or inventory number 2015.594. The work has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition, reflecting its established presence in the institution's holdings.
Overview
The work presents an expansive, gently undulating terrain traversed by winding paths. Small clusters of figures are engaged in labor while buffalo move across the verdant slopes. Sparse trees punctuate the hillsides, and distant mountains dissolve into light, ink‑like washes.
The palette is dominated by earthy browns and muted greens, accented with touches of red and blue that suggest cultivated fields or water.
Technique & Style
The artist employs thin, rapid brushstrokes that convey motion across the hills and water surfaces. Delicate detailing of individual workers and grazing animals adds vitality to the broader vista. The use of light ink washes for distant mountains creates atmospheric depth, while the restrained color scheme focuses attention on form and movement rather than decorative richness.
Artist & collection
