Who painted Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow?

Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow was painted by Nakabayashi Chikutō in 1847.

Where can I see Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow?

Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Artwork

Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow

Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow is an unspecified painting by Nakabayashi Chikutō. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1847 by Japanese painter Chikutō Nakabayashi, *Mountains and Valley in Clearing Snow* is an ink-and-wash landscape that presents a quiet winter scene. The work is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the nanga, or Southern School, approach that merged Chinese literati aesthetics with Japanese motifs.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a solitary tree rising from a snow‑covered valley, its bare branches reaching toward a muted sky. Distant mountains fade into mist, suggesting both the vastness of nature and a contemplative solitude that aligns with the scholarly ideals of the nanga tradition.

Technique & Style

Nakabayashi employs soft, restrained brushwork and a limited palette of grays and pale blues to convey the cold atmosphere. Light and shadow are rendered through delicate washes, giving the scene depth while maintaining the fluid spontaneity characteristic of Chinese-inspired literati painting.

History & Provenance

Active in the early to mid‑19th century, Nakabayashi was a prominent figure in Japan’s nanga movement. After changing hands among private collectors, the painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings.

Context

The piece reflects a period when Japanese artists adopted Chinese scholarly painting methods, emphasizing personal expression over formal realism. By integrating a Japanese winter landscape with the philosophical underpinnings of Chinese art, Nakabayashi illustrates the cross‑cultural dialogue that defined nanga during the Edo period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nakabayashi Chikutō

Japanese, 1776–1853

Museum

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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