Minneapolis Institute of Art

Drifting in a Small Boat

Inoue Kinga

Date

18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll, ink on paper

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Inoue Kinga made his living as a Confucian teacher at a private academy in Edo (Tokyo). As such, he was able to lead the ideal life of a literati artist--painting for pure self-expression rather than for profit. His paintings, accordingly, lack the polish of professional painter's, but have a purity and simplicity that more directly reflects his personality and poetic interests. Kinga painted this minimal landscape for his friend, Sanshi, to whom he refers in the poem: Drifting in a little boat with someone familiar The waters of the lake have rippled for twenty years-- I also enjoy the smoky haze from a rocky waterfall; Sand bars to the north and south form a road to meet my friend. Japan, Asia

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