Preparing Tea by a Mountain Gorge

Aoki Mokubei

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The preparation or drinking of sencha (Chinese-style steeped tea) was a frequent subject of Chinese literati painters. Here Aoki Mokubei depicted a man and his servant in a mountain setting preparing sencha tea over a ceramic stove. The division of the composition into two distinct areas, as though painted on opposite sides of a large bowl, reminds us that the artist learned to paint while working primarily as a potter. Mokubei also established himself as a painter in the Nanga (Literati school) style. He grew up in the Gion district of Kyoto, where his family owned a restaurant and brothel. Mokubei began making pottery under the guidance of Okuda Eisen (1753–1811), and he was soon celebrated for his copies of Chinese ceramics. Together with Eisen and Nin’ami Dōhachi (1783–1855), he is credited with reviving the ceramics traditions of Kyoto.

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