This dynamic scene captures a river flowing powerfully between boulders. One can almost hear the roar of the river as it rushes by, throwing up spray. Lines of different thickness and shading are used to show the flow of the water, while the intricately wrought wave caps convey its movement. On the left, two wagtails stand on a rock. The birds have long been known as a "birds of love," and the gorgeous golden folding screens suggest that the painting was intended to celebrate a wedding or similar occasion. Kawai Gyokudo placed great importance on the close observation of nature and never missed a chance to sketch. This rich world of ink wash painting is the confident creation of a man in his late 50s who had already earned his reputation both in Japan and abroad.
(HASEGAWA Tamao)
This dynamic scene captures a river flowing powerfully between boulders. One can almost hear the roar of the river as it rushes by, throwing up spray. Lines of different thickness and shading are used to show the flow of the water, while the intricately wrought wave caps convey its movement. On the left, two wagtails stand on a rock. The birds have long been known as a "birds of love," and the gorgeous golden folding screens suggest that the painting was intended to celebrate a wedding or similar occasion. Kawai Gyokudo placed great importance on the close observation of nature and never missed a chance to sketch. This rich world of ink wash painting is the confident creation of a man in his late 50s who had already earned his reputation both in Japan and abroad.
(HASEGAWA Tamao)