Bean VineItō Jakuchū · 701
Japanese Traditional
701
126.0cm x 48.0cm
Itō Jakuchū (1716 – 1800)
Discover Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800), a revolutionary Japanese painter of the Edo period. Celebrated for his vibrant bird & flower paintings, unique perspectives, and Zen Buddhist influences, he's an 'eccentric' master who reshaped Japanese art.
Itō Jakuchū, son of a greengrocer, used vegetables and plants as a personal iconography that almost always included a moral or religious meaning. This handsome sketch of a bean plant, paired with a poem by Ōbaku Zen monk Musen Jōzen (Tangai), refers to a story about the Chinese poet Cao Zhi (192–232), whose tyrannical brother, Cao Pei (Emperor Wen), once commanded him to compose a poem before he took seven steps, threatening him with execution if he failed. Tangai’s verse makes an erudite reference to Cao Zhi’s original poem comparing himself and his brother to the parts of a bean plant, while also alluding to the Zen philosophy of nonduality. The green vine puts forth blossoms, and its pods are like half-formed swords. The bean and stalk are inseparable; both were born from the same roots. —Trans. John T. Carpenter
About this artwork
- Title: Bean Vine
- Artist: Itō Jakuchū
- Year: 701
- Original dimensions: 126.0cm x 48.0cm
- Format: Portrait
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Movement: Japanese Traditional
- Corpus context: nature's duality theme, jakuchu's signature style
- Main color: Walnut
- Keywords: 18th century art, floral scroll art, bean vine artwork
Questions & Answers
How much light do the colors of "Bean Vine" appear to reflect?
The colors of "Bean Vine" show a bright balance luminance.
Does "Bean Vine" by Itō Jakuchū use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?
In "Bean Vine", a gentle contrast is paired with a unified palette harmony.
Does "Bean Vine" show strong light-dark contrasts?
"Bean Vine" by Itō Jakuchū shows a gentle contrast between its light and dark areas.