Red and White Poppies

Tawaraya Sōtatsu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Unlike many themes in the repertoire of Rinpa artists, poppies do not figure prominently in classic literature. In fact, this beloved flower, often depicted in Edo period painting, seems to have been introduced to Japan only in the 1630s as an exotic medicinal herb, the result of a growing interest in natural sciences. Here, boldly arranged in two clumps within the narrow vertical format and rendered in the heavy mineral pigments that characterize the works of Sōtatsu and his followers, this decorative rendition of the poppies nevertheless reveals a careful attention to naturalistic detail. These characteristics are notable in the work of Sōsetsu, who by 1639 had taken over Sōtatsu's atelier, as well as the use of his Inen seal, a version of which is impressed on this work.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art