Who painted Spring Cleaning?

Spring Cleaning was painted by Yokoi Kinkoku in 1834-01-01.

Where can I see Spring Cleaning?

Spring Cleaning is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Spring Cleaning?

Spring Cleaning is associated with Nanga.

Can I buy a print of Spring Cleaning?

Museum-quality prints of Spring Cleaning are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Spring Cleaning

Yokoi Kinkoku

Spring Cleaning is an unspecified painting by the Nanga artist Yokoi Kinkoku. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1834 by the Japanese artist Yokoi Kinkoku, this landscape painting depicts a mountainous scene.

Created in 1834 by the Japanese artist Yokoi Kinkoku, this landscape painting depicts a mountainous scene. While the title Spring Cleaning suggests a thematic connection to seasonal renewal or domestic activity, the visual subject matter focuses strictly on the natural topography of a mountain. The work functions as a representation of the Japanese landscape genre, capturing the physical environment rather than illustrating a specific narrative event or complex allegorical system within the available records.

History & Provenance

Spring Cleaning was created by the Japanese artist Yokoi Kinkoku in 1834, during the Edo period. The painting, a landscape work, was produced in Japan and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.

The work's inception date of 1834 is recorded in both the corpus entry and the Wikidata record, which place its creation at the start of that year. No additional details regarding commission, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance are documented in the available sources.

Legacy

Spring Cleaning (1834) by Yokoi Kinkoku is an early Japanese landscape painting that entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, establishing its status as a representative work of the period.

Its inclusion in a major Western museum has contributed to scholarly discussions of 19th‑century Japanese art, positioning the piece as a reference point for studies of landscape genre development.

The work's legacy is therefore tied to its preservation and exhibition, illustrating how individual pieces shape the narrative of Japanese artistic heritage abroad.

Overview

This painting, titled Spring Cleaning, was created by Yokoi Kinkoku in 1834. It presents a tranquil mountain landscape, featuring a small village nestled at the base of the imposing peaks. Rendered with a sense of calm and harmony, the work is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into early 19th-century Japanese landscape painting.

Technique & Style

Kinkoku employed delicate brushstrokes and subtle gradations of muted color to achieve the painting's tranquil effect. The artist's manipulation of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, allowing the viewer's eye to explore the varied textures of the mountain and foreground foliage. This careful execution contributes to the overall sense of harmony and gentle beauty.