Spring Clouds Arising from the GorgeIke Taiga · 1770

  • Art movementNanga
  • Creation date1770
  • Dimensions36.0 x 128.0 cm

Ike Taiga (1723 – 1776)

Ike no Taiga (1723-1776) was a pivotal Japanese painter of the Edo period, renowned for perfecting *bunjinga* (literati painting). Explore his classical Chinese-inspired landscapes, calligraphy & influence on Nanga style. Discover a master of nature

This painting embodies Literati (Nanga) expression—the master in control of brushwork and ink tones. The brushwork, in Mi dots (a traditional East Asian stippling technique) and hemp-fiber strokes, appears to derive directly from Chinese painting manuals made available in Japan as woodblock-printed books. “Mi dots” refer to a painting technique employed by Mi Fu, a Chinese ink painter and calligrapher of the Northern Song dynasty, and involve using soft ink “dots” in an almost impressionistic manner to build up landscape forms. Based on its title, the painting is thought to be the one presented to scholar-painter and collector Kimura Kenkadō (1736–1802) for a shogakai, or “calligraphy and painting gathering,” in 1770 at the Ryūsenji subtemple of Tennōji. Kenkadō is thought to have “rejected” this painting because he expected a more elaborate work on silk.

About this artwork

  • Title: Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge
  • Artist: Ike Taiga
  • Year: 1770
  • Original dimensions: 36.0 x 128.0 cm
  • Format: Tall
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Corpus context: literati painting, kimura kenkadō
  • Keywords: zen landscape art, ike taiga artist, chinese ink art
  • Color intensity: Balanced
  • Perceived brightness: brilliant

Questions & Answers

What is the creation date of "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" by Ike Taiga?

"Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" by Ike Taiga was created in 1770.

Which period of Ike Taiga's career does "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" belong to?

Within Ike Taiga's career, "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" falls in the Late Medieval. The phase helps compare it with the artist's other works.

How harmonious are the colors of "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" by Ike Taiga?

The color harmony of "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" is recorded as unified palette.

Who is the artist behind "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge"?

"Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" is attributed to Ike Taiga.

What does "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" share with the rest of Ike Taiga's output?

Within Ike Taiga's output, "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" sits in the Nanga style, alongside the themes of chinese ink tradition, nanga aesthetic", literati painting, shogakai gathering, kimura kenkadō, mi dot technique, nature's serenity, zen philosophy.

In which movement and which era is "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" by Ike Taiga placed?

"Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" belongs to the Nanga movement, and its creator worked in the Early-Modern era.

At what age did Ike Taiga make "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge"?

Ike Taiga made "Spring Clouds Arising from the Gorge" at the age of 47. The artist was born in 1723 and the work is dated 1770.

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