Grapevine
| Support Type: | Silk |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| Location History: | Painted in Japan after 1790 by Matsumura Goshun, "Grapevine" was later acquired by collector Howard Mansfield. In 1936, it entered the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Howard Mansfield Collection, purchased with the Rogers Fund, where it remains today. |
Matsumura Goshun's "Grapevine" was painted around the later part of 1790s, during Japan's Edo period. During this, time Goshun had left his literati roots to follow a different creative path of art-making by joining Ōkyo's school. This hanging scroll painting was intended to be displayed seasonally in tokonoma alcove which invited the viewers to perceive the art piece with utmost mindfulness and contemplation. The subtle beauties hidden in such a simple painting makes us be aware of how Goshun attempted to blend natural elements with extremely precise brushwork of literati painting. This attempt reflects the interests of that period: Chinese scholarly traditions and Japanese naturalistic observations. "Grapevine" portrays an elegance of how simplicity of a cluster of grapes can leave a remarkable impression through the delicate use of ink on silk. The use of silk as the support is a brilliant choice as it holds the ink washes and helps it with luminosity that is soft yet evident. Goshun's application of confident, restrained brushstrokes of the rounded forms of the grapes, and the twisting vigor of the vines transcends natural beauty. If one must want to know the Edo period's aesthetics, this artist can prove to make a significant contribution. Grapes carry various symbolic meaning with them depending upon who is interpreting it; i.e. it can represent a fruitful life or liveliness, or rich harvest or longevity. In poetic universe, grapes often is a signifier of the autumn season, hence it can be a conjecture that this painting was demonstrated in a tokonoma decorative alcove during that season. This painting invites the viewers to delve deep into the refined visual poetry of late eighteenth century japan, where even the humblest fruit can be the centre of an artist's muse.