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Mountain Landscape

Artist Unkoku Tôteki (Japanese, 1547 - 1618)
Datelate 16th-early 17th century
MediumSix-panel screen (one of a pair), ink and color on paper
DimensionsOverall: 66 × 150 inches (167.64 × 381 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number74-13/2
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • 205
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Chinese landscapes were popular among certain segments of Japanese society.  Japanese warriors, aristocrats and Zen monks admired the ideals of Chinese scholars and rejected city life for the spiritual contentment they found in a simpler, rural existence. These ideals are reflected in this landscape: the vast river, distant mountains, secluded temples and fishing boats show an appreciation of nature and of the nobility of pursuing life in its midst. Unkoku Tōteki came from a lineage of painters who created Chinese-style landscapes. At the time he created  his paintings, they were considered somewhat old-fashioned because the style had been more popular 100 years earlier.
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