A Closer Look: Episode 15 - Tawaraya Sotatsu’s Matsushima screens
In this episode of A Closer Look, Dr Kathleen Olive chats with Dr Nick Gordon about Tawaraya Sotatsu's sublime "Matsushima" screens. Now in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (Washington DC), these two large folding screens probably don't represent the iconic pine-clad islands of Matsushima Bay in the Tohoku region. But they do represent a true achievement of seventeenth-century Japanese painting.
For many years, little was known about Tawaraya Sotatsu's contribution to the emerging Rinpa school of luxurious, luscious art. But close examination of these screens shows how his use of gold, silver, pooling ink and fine calligraphic technique beautifully evoke a roiling and symbolic marine landscape.
We highly recommend that you visit the Smithsonian's visual essay for Google Art & Culture, in order to see the glorious detail of these works.
NICK GORDON
Nick Gordon is a cultural historian with a University Medal and PhD from the University of Sydney, and significant expertise designing modern and contemporary art-focused tours to Western Europe, Asia and Australasia. He is also a practising artist.
Kathleen Olive
Kathleen is one of Australia’s best-known cultural tour leaders, with over fifteen years’ experience leading tours to Western Europe, North America, Australasia and Japan.
