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Matsubayashi Keigetsu
Japanese, 1876-1963
Landscape of the Four Seasons, 1932
Pair of six-panel screens; ink and light color on paper
each 170.7 x 367.7 cm
Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum Shop Fund (214:1986.a-b), Obj: 191664
一面の山の峰々、うねった丘と平らな畑でかこまれた中国の山水と田舎の家々が、淡い色と墨で描かれている。右隻の、春の薄桃色の桜、左隻の、秋の優美な赤みや褐色が、季節の一巡を特徴づけている。筆づかいを少なくかつシンプルにする、「平淡」の画法である。
両屏風の上部には、桂月の手により、九首の漢詩と二篇の辞が記されている。最後の辞にある「中田老人」は、出版者の中田喜太郎にあたる。恐らくこの作品は、桂月が中田へ、その支援に感謝の念を表わした作品であろう。
In these screens, a serene Chinese landscape replete with mountain peaks, undulating hills, agricultural fields, and rustic dwellings are described with soft colors and ink. The pale pink of cherry blossoms in spring is featured on the right and the reds and browns of autumn grace the left screen in a tour through the seasons. The painting style is inspired by the “plain and bland” manner (in Chinese, pingdan; in Japanese, heitan), which relies on a few, simple strokes.
The artist has written nine Chinese poems and two inscriptions across the upper portion of both screens. In the last inscription, the artist mentions “Old Man Nakata,” namely Nakata Kitaro, who published printed volumes of the artist’s works. It would have been appropriate for Keigetsu to thank Nakata for his support by presenting him with this pair of folding screens.
Rotation 2: August 15-September 27, 2009
