Artwork
松花堂昭乗書・伝俵屋宗達下絵 和歌色紙 |Poem by Onakatomi Yoshinobu with Underpainting of Hollyhocks
松花堂昭乗書・伝俵屋宗達下絵 和歌色紙 |Poem by Onakatomi Yoshinobu with Underpainting of Hollyhocks is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗|Tawaraya Sōtatsu 俵屋宗達. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1616, this hanging scroll combines poetry and painting on a shikishi, a colored paper card traditionally used for verse.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1616, this hanging scroll combines poetry and painting on a shikishi, a colored paper card traditionally used for verse. The work bears the calligraphic hand of court poet Onakatomi Yoshinobu, while the visual background consists of a delicate underpainting of hollyhock stems rendered in muted green.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a single line of verse with the suggestion of blooming hollyhocks, a motif often linked to seasonal change and transience in Japanese aesthetics. The poem’s presence above the floral suggestion invites contemplation of the fleeting nature of beauty.
Technique & Style
Shōkadō Shōjō applied ink, gold and silver pigments to the colored paper, first laying down a faint green wash that outlines the hollyhock stems. After the underpainting dried, the poet’s ink characters were inscribed, allowing the metallic highlights to catch the light and subtly reveal the botanical forms beneath.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from the early Edo period and reflects the collaborative practice of poet‑artist pairs common in that era. It remains attributed to Shōkadō Shōjō, a monk‑artist known for integrating calligraphy and painting, and is catalogued as a religious work within his oeuvre.
Context
During the early 17th century, shikishi were often employed for the exchange of poetry among court circles, sometimes embellished with modest pictorial elements. The inclusion of hollyhocks aligns with contemporary taste for restrained natural motifs that complement, rather than dominate, the written text.
Artist & collection
Artist
Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗|Tawaraya Sōtatsu 俵屋宗達
Shōkadō Shōjō once painted poems on silver-dusted paper so thin it rippled like pond water.
