View of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at Dawn

View of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at Dawn

Oda Kaisen

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Painted at New Year's for a visiting friend, this quiet scene shows two companions enjoying a view of Kyoto's hills and the Kamo River. The tiny scale of the men in contrast to the wide, horizontal sweep of the landscape delightfully emphasizes the intimacy they have shared during their visit. Kaisen was first trained in the realistic Shijō style of painting under Matsumura Goshun (1752–1811) but later switched to nanga, studying with Rai San'yō (1780–1832).

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

View of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at DawnView of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at DawnView of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at DawnView of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at DawnView of the Kamo River from Sanbogi at Dawn

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.