Who painted The Brine Maiden Matsukaze?

The Brine Maiden Matsukaze was painted by Ishikawa Toyonobu in 1716.

Where can I see The Brine Maiden Matsukaze?

The Brine Maiden Matsukaze is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Brine Maiden Matsukaze?

The Brine Maiden Matsukaze is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Artwork

The Brine Maiden Matsukaze

Ishikawa Toyonobu , 1716

The Brine Maiden Matsukaze is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Ishikawa Toyonobu. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1716 by the Edo‑period artist Ishikawa Toyobō, The Brine Maiden Matsukaze is a painted panel now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work presents a lyrical scene of two women positioned beside water, rendered in the vivid palette and decorative detail characteristic of early eighteenth‑century Japanese painting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features a standing figure beneath a pine, clothed in a flowing blue‑green robe, and a seated companion on a rock wearing a bright red and blue garment while holding a fan. The title suggests a connection to the legendary “brine maiden” motif, linking the figures to folklore about spirits of the sea and the transience of beauty.

Technique & Style

Toyobō employs delicate brushwork to suggest the rippling water, using wavy lines that contrast with a dark border embellished with gold motifs. The garments are rendered with fine patterning and careful attention to folds, allowing the reds, blues, and greens to stand out against a lighter background and create a sense of depth within a relatively flat pictorial space.

History & Provenance

The panel was produced during the flourishing ukiyo‑e period and entered the Metropolitan Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early twentieth century. Its documented provenance traces back to Japanese collectors before crossing to the United States, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Japanese art collection.

Context

The work reflects the Edo era’s fascination with literary and theatrical subjects, particularly the romanticized images of women associated with water spirits. Toyobō’s choice of vivid coloration and decorative border aligns with contemporary trends in genre painting that catered to a growing urban audience interested in both narrative and aesthetic appeal.