Sanso Collection - Urakami Gyokudo

I have been blessed to work on mounting several prints into scrolls for the Sanso Collection (山荘コレクション) owned by the late Peter Drucker. As I do not own any rights, I can not post the pictures themselves, but will share my own personal feelings as I get to work on framing these paintings and my connection to what these artists say to me.

The first print I worked on, is by Urakami Gyokudo (浦上玉堂). Urakami Gyokudo was a Japanese painter, musician, poet and calligrapher who lived from 1745 to 1820. While alive, he was a famed player of the zither, and posthumously as a painter. The specific painting I have worked on is titled, "Quietly Observing Summer Mountains".

It is a very large print almost 21 inches wide by 50 inches tall. In it there is a landscape painting with a man on a bridge. When I first looked at the painting, I assumed it was summer because of the dress of the man, and the prominent willow tree painted, which is often a symbol of summer. There is the usual stream running through the low valley and three peaks. What really caught my eye in this painting was a dabbed ink at the very top of the highest peak. I do not know if it is really anything, but to me is very reminiscent of the shape of the Buddha.

Now, I do not know much about the teachings of Buddhism, but from my Judeo-Christian background, I felt that Urakami is not just communicating the man observing his surroundings, but realizes that from his vantage point, he must find a way to enlightenment (in other words, climb to reach the Buddha) and seek a path along the rokudo.

I may be reading more into this than there really is, but that has been my impression every time I get to see the print.

Maples-san,
I understand your ability, and appreciate being able to analyse a painting and to interpret from your understanding as to what is being said. I'm beginning to also look and grasp certain things as well.I think, for me at least, it's an opportunity to better understand the time and place that the artist puts us in. So even without the picture, the ability to picture in one's mind and understand what is being said is quite helpful. I'm glad you shared.

Benbowさんへ

Thanks for the reply. You can see some of this painters work by typing the name Urakami Gyokudo into google images. I have not been able to pull up this particular painting. But you can see his style, and it is very typical literati style. One of his paintings is considered a National Cultural Property. You can see a sample at this link.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cultural_Properties_of_Japan_-_paintings_(Kanagawa)

thanks for the url....looking at some of his examples on line was helpful to appreciate his artistry.