Letter

Tanomura Chokunyū 田能村直入

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This letter was brushed by Nanga painter Tanomura Chokunyū, a pupil and adopted son of Tanomura Chikuden (1777–1835), arguably the most important Nanga painter of the early nineteenth century. Chokunyū carried on his father’s legacy by helping establish Kyoto’s first art school, now known as the Kyoto City University of Arts (Kyoto Shiritsu Geijutsu Daigaku). He himself was a highly skilled painter in the Nanga tradition, specializing in landscapes executed in styles associated with great Chinese painters of the past. This letter is addressed to Murase Gyokuden 村瀬玉田 (1852–1917), a student and adopted son of popular Kyoto painter Murase Sōseki (1822–1877). Gyokuden was known for both flower-and-bird subjects and landscapes and produced commissioned works for the imperial family. In the middle of the letter, Chokunyū playfully drew three Matsutake mushrooms. On another letter from Chokunyū to Gyokuden, he painted three chestnuts (published on the Waseda University Library website). These letters with sketches of autumn produce reveal the close friendship of these two Kyoto painters.

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