Minneapolis Institute of Art

Landscape in the Manner of Ni Zan

Yamanaka Shinten'ō

Date

second half 19th century

Medium

Hanging scroll, ink on satin

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The title of Yamanaka Shinten’ō’s work is reflected in the empty pavilion and the distancing of the background from the foreground, characteristics associated with the work of Ni Zan, however, the playful brushwork is the artist’s own. The inscription is ambiguous; perhaps Shinten’ō is congratulating himself for retaining his own style despite his comprehensive knowledge of classical Chinese painting; perhaps it is a lament for the perceived fall of nanga into stale academicism that occurred again and again through history. Inscription 予画本無宗傳 惟以山川為筆墨 似雲烟為渲染 幾處冩之於此 有餘師 My painting originally had no sect or doctrine, I just rely on mountains and rivers for my brush and ink, clouds and mist for tones and shadings, so wherever I go to sketch, I have many teachers. (Transl. by Steven Addiss 1993) Japan, Asia

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