
Album of twenty-four paintings17th century
These paintings come from a small album of paintings that alternates themes from Japanese and Chinese literature with studies from nature. More about this work
About this work
These paintings come from a small album of paintings that alternates themes from Japanese and Chinese literature with studies from nature. The paintings are executed in a style that combines the expressive brushwork characteristic of Chinese ink painting with the precise linear detail and delicate coloration that was practiced by Japanese court artists. The painter Kano Tan'yu established himself and his descendants as versatile professional artists whose work influenced Japanese artists of the Kano and other schools.
Text from the National Museum of Asian Art.
How it was made
- Ink on paper
- Ink made from soot and animal glue, ground with water on an inkstone. A single brush can give a hair-fine line or a broad wash, and nothing can be corrected.
School of Kano Tan'yu
1602–1674
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Museum of Asian Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- F1904.119
- Credit
- Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
- Type
- Painting
- Department
- National Museum of Asian Art
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site









