Zhou Maoshu Admiring Lotuses
| Support Type: | Silk |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA |
| Location History: | Zhou Maoshu Admiring Lotuses was painted by Kaihō Yūsetsu in Japan during the mid-seventeenth century. The artwork's early ownership history is undocumented in published records. By the twentieth century, it had entered the Mary Griggs Burke Collection, a distinguished private collection of Japanese art assembled by Mary Griggs Burke. In 2015, the painting was transferred to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, as part of the Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation. It is currently preserved in the Museum's Department of Asian Art under accession number 2015.300.221. |
Zhou Maoshu Admiring Lotuses by Kaihō Yūsetsu is a rare and exceptional ink painting of the Edo period, and is a work of art in which Chinese and Japanese ideas intersected. The painting is a hanging scroll that depicts the famous Chinese philosopher Zhou Dunyi (Zhou Maoshu) meditating on a group of floating lotuses, ink and delicate colour on paper. Yūsetsu is not concerned with the elaborate decoration, instead giving prominence to the philosophical content of the subject through the use of simplicity and balance. The composition is well structured and the only scholar is harmoniously placed in a peaceful natural setting. The fine brushstrokes bring out the beauty of the lotus leaves, flowers and foliage, whereas the subtle washes in the ink layer add depth and ambiance. The artist's sure use of line and tonal variation is wonderful, creating a scene that is full of movement and vitality. Strategically placed empty space is used as a component to invite the viewer to pause and think about the ties between man and nature. The central position of the lotus in the composition is a symbolic position. It comes out of the muddy water and symbolizes purity, integrity and moral cultivation, similar to those of Zhou Dunyi's esteemed philosophical works. The scholar is depicted in quiet adoration of the flower, making Yūsetsu a more than simply visual depiction, it's a reflection on ethical ideals, self-cultivation and spiritual refinement. The story is a delicate one, and parallels the Neo-Confucianism that became more prevalent during the Edo period. Harmonious composition, subtle color palette and expressive brushwork are all hallmarks of the artistic ideals of Japanese ink painting tradition, and Zhou Maoshu Admiring Lotuses celebrates the Chinese philosophy of such art. The painting is a beautiful fusion of thinking and creativity, evoking contemplation through its beauty, symbolism and technical skill, which makes it a timeless work of art.
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