Who painted Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute?

Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute was painted by Kō Fuyō in 1752.

Where can I see Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute?

Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute?

Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute

Kō Fuyō , 1752

Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Kō Fuyō. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1752 by the Japanese painter Kō Fuyō, *Pine‑Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute* is an oil painting in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work presents a tranquil landscape dominated by a rugged cliff, scattered trees, and a remote structure, rendered in a muted palette of earth tones that convey distance and atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes the solidity of the stone outcrop with the delicate foliage of the trees, suggesting a balance between permanence and transience. The title’s reference to wind and a lute evokes a poetic harmony between natural elements and music, a common motif in East Asian visual culture that links scenery with lyrical expression.

Technique & Style

Fuyō employs subtle gradations of shading to model the rock faces, creating a tactile sense of texture. Thin, precise brushwork defines the branches and leaves, while the limited color range—ochres, browns, and soft greens—enhances the depth of field. The overall effect is one of restrained elegance, characteristic of mid‑eighteenth‑century Japanese landscape painting.

History & Provenance

Since its creation in the mid‑1700s, the painting has remained in private hands before entering the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings. Its accession provides scholars and visitors with a representative example of Kō Fuyō’s mature style.

Artist & collection

Artist

Kō Fuyō

Kō Fuyō painted delicate scenes from 18th-century Japan. Try *Pine-Scented Wind, the Harmony of a Lute*, a quiet ink-on-silk piece that shows a musician beneath pine trees. It belongs to the same quiet, natural mood as…