Artwork
与謝蕪村筆秋草花竹籃図 |Autumn Flowers in a Bamboo Basket
与謝蕪村筆秋草花竹籃図 |Autumn Flowers in a Bamboo Basket is an ink painting by the Nihonga artist Yosa Buson. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1764, this hanging scroll by Yosa Buson presents a quiet still‑life scene. Rendered in ink and subtle colour on paper, the composition centers on a tall bamboo basket brimming with assorted wildflowers and grasses, their forms spilling outward in a gentle cascade.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on the seasonal motif of autumnal flora, arranged in a modest basket that suggests both abundance and transience. Buson’s inclusion of a brief three‑line poem above the basket creates a dialogue between visual and literary elements, inviting contemplation of nature’s fleeting beauty.
Technique & Style
Executed with brushwork that balances precise ink outlines and soft washes of colour, the scroll demonstrates Buson’s command of both calligraphic line and painterly shading. The delicate handling of the bamboo texture and the varied foliage conveys a sense of immediacy while maintaining compositional harmony.
History & Provenance
Yosa Buson, renowned as a haiku poet and painter of the Edo period, signed the piece with his poem, a customary practice that linked his literary identity to his visual output. The scroll has been preserved as an example of his integrated approach to poetry and painting, reflecting the cultural aesthetics of mid‑18th‑century Japan.
Artist & collection
