The poetry of nature: Edo paintings from the Fishbein-Bender collection

Abstract

"The Poetry of Nature offers an in-depth look at more than 40 extraordinary Japanese paintings that represent every major school and movement of the Edo period, including Kano, Rinpa, Nanga, Zen, Maruyama-Shijo, and Ukiyo-e. The unifying theme is a celebration of the natural world, expressed in varied forms, from the bold, graphic manner of Rinpa to the muted sensitivity of Nanga. Among the artists whose works are included are Ike Taiga (1723-1776), Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795), and Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828). John T. Carpenter looks specifically at the intertwinement of painting and poetry, a Japanese artistic tradition that reached new heights during the Edo period. In addition to new readings and translations of Japanese and Chinese poems, Carpenter sheds light on the ways in which Edo artists used verse to transform their paintings into a hybrid literary and visual art."--Publisher's description.

Contents

The poetry of nature: an introduction / John T. Carpenter -- Kano and Tosa: China-inspired themes in Edo art / John T. Carpenter -- Rinpa: transmitting ancient Japanese painting styles / John T. Carpenter -- Nanga: Chinese-style landscapes and literati poetics / Midori Oka -- Zen monks and eccentrics: sacred art to confound and amuse / John T. Carpenter -- Maruyama-shijo: poetic symbolism in naturalistic painting / Midori Oka -- Ukiyo-e: the poetry culture of the floating world / John T. Carpenter -- Signatures and seals -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.