Peonies

Description

A proliferation of white tree peonies dominates this composition. Behind them are tall, feathery-topped susuki grasses and leafy deciduous trees. Tatebayashi Kagei restricted his palette to ink with red and white color, along with sparing use of green in the peony leaves and the blades of grass. He made generous use of the “dripping-in” (tarashikomi) technique, layering pooled ink and color, in the peony leaves. The areas left in reserve create the impression of
insect-eaten or late season foliage.

Provenance

Mr. Harry C. Nail Jr. [1909–1990], El Dorado, AR, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art by exchange (?–1964); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1964–)

Peonies

Tatebayashi Kagei

mid 1700s

Accession Number

1964.105

Medium

hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Dimensions

Painting only: 90.9 x 36.2 cm (35 13/16 x 14 1/4 in.)

Classification

Painting

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Worcester R. Warner Collection