The “six immortal poets” are well-known poets whose names are mentioned in the preface to the Kokin Wakashu, a Heian Period (794–1185) anthology of waka-style poetry. They are Funya no Yasuhide, Kisen Hoshi, Ariwara no Narihira, Ono no Komachi, Sojyo Henjo, and Otomo no Kuronushi. In this work, the pattern formed by the kimono and the faces, which are placed at even intervals on the left and right, leads our gaze smoothly from the top to the bottom of the image and back. So rhythmical is the composition that it could be narrating a poem itself. The fact that all six poets are looking in the same direction also catches our eye. Perhaps they are looking at the source of inspiration for their famous poems? Before we know it, our imaginations are filling in details that lie outside the picture.
(HIBINO MIyon)
The “six immortal poets” are well-known poets whose names are mentioned in the preface to the Kokin Wakashu, a Heian Period (794–1185) anthology of waka-style poetry. They are Funya no Yasuhide, Kisen Hoshi, Ariwara no Narihira, Ono no Komachi, Sojyo Henjo, and Otomo no Kuronushi. In this work, the pattern formed by the kimono and the faces, which are placed at even intervals on the left and right, leads our gaze smoothly from the top to the bottom of the image and back. So rhythmical is the composition that it could be narrating a poem itself. The fact that all six poets are looking in the same direction also catches our eye. Perhaps they are looking at the source of inspiration for their famous poems? Before we know it, our imaginations are filling in details that lie outside the picture.
(HIBINO MIyon)