Cleveland Museum of Art

Beneath the Willow

Date

after 1778

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Two young women cool themselves by a river as a willow blows in the breeze. One crouches down to rinse a hand towel, while the other sits with her chin balanced on her fan. Beside her is a black lacquer tray with a floral design in gold, holding her tobacco kit. Tsukioka Tessai was an Osaka-based ukiyo-e artist who was especially respected for his representations of beautiful women ( bijin ). The court bestowed upon him the rank Bridge of the Law ( hokyo ) in 1778, and he was eventually elevated in rank to Eye of the Law ( hogen ). The willow tree may refer to the contemporary Edo fashion for elongated "willowy" beauties.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.