Artwork Page for Waves

Details / Information for Waves

Waves

波図扇面

late 1700s-early 1800s

Nakamura Hōchū 中村 芳中

(Japanese, d. 1819)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
fan painting mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and color with gold on paper
Measurements
Image: 39.8 x 53 cm (15 11/16 x 20 7/8 in.); Overall: 126.4 x 61.3 cm (49 3/4 x 24 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1999.90
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Nakamura Hōchū took inspiration for his work from the painter Ogata Kōrin.

Description

Nakamura Hōchū painted waves on this handheld fan to bring coolness to the mind of its bearer. While fragile paper fans are often used for a single season, this one was cherished for its design. Someone carefully removed it from its folding apparatus and converted it into a hanging scroll for occasional enjoyment in an alcove.
A fan-shaped ink and gold leaf painting on paper, mounted on a larger vertical sheet, depicts stylized waves. Swirling blue and gray lines create rhythmic, calligraphic patterns on our left and across the lower right. A shimmering band of textured gold leaf flecks spans the horizontal center. On our right edge, black ink characters sit above a small red square seal. The composition balances fluid movement with the elegantly curved fan form.

Waves

late 1700s-early 1800s

Nakamura Hōchū

(Japanese, d. 1819)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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