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Gazing at a Waterfall
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Chinese poet Li Bai’s (701–762) poem “Gazing at a Waterfall on Mount Lu” is about experiencing the vastness of the galaxy in relationship to one’s own being. Japanese Zen monk-poet Keijo Shūrin (1440–1518) identified Li’s poem as the inspiration for Japanese painter Geiami’s (1431–1485) work <em>Gazing at a Waterfall</em>, in the collection of the Nezu Museum, which features sharp brushstrokes and bright colors. In contrast, this album leaf’s painter, Geiami’s son Sōami, took a more delicate approach to the theme. The waterfall and the pair watching it frame the mist rising from the water at the center of the image.
| Artist / Maker | Sōami |
|---|---|
| Date | early 1500s |
| Culture / Origin | Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573) |
| Medium | Album leaf mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and slight color on paper |
| Dimensions | Painting: 29 x 30.1 cm (11 7/16 x 11 7/8 in.); Mounted with knobs: 113 x 47.6 cm (44 1/2 x 18 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Japanese Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Sōami (Japanese, d. 1525) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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