Terms and conditions of use
Pines
(Matsu 松)
(early 19th century)
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1991
- Gallery location
- Not on display
About this work
Kinbyō bu, or ‘golden screens’, were used to divide large interior spaces of aristocratic villas and castles into smaller, more private areas. In this simple, dramatic depiction of pine trees (symbols of long life and resilience), the strength of the massive tree on the left contrasts with the delicate smaller pines on the right. Brushed with charcoal sumi ink directly onto gold leaf, the screens display a skilful use of negative (unadorned) space, which, together with the simplicity of the composition, creates a much larger and expansive imagined landscape.
Artwork Details
stamped in red ink l.l.: (artist’s seal) / (artist’s seal)
(b) inscribed in ink l.r.: 豊彦
stamped in red l.r.: (artist’s seal) / (artist’s seal)
Felton Bequest, 1991
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation