Grapevine

Matsumura Goshun

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

An endearing and small work attributed to Maruyama Ōkyo’s follower Matsumura Goshun. Grapes carried various symbolic meanings that stem from the abundance of its fruit, for instance fecundity, a rich harvest or leading a long life. In poetry, it signifies autumn, hence one would expect to the scroll on display in a tokonoma decorative alcove during that season. The signature style and seal suggest that it was painted in the 1790s or later, when Goshun had shed off his literati roots and fully transitioned into a member of Ōkyo’s school

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