Irises, 1700s. The subject of this painting comes from a 10th-century text. It tells of a young nobleman’s journey into the lonely countryside, far from the capital city of Heian-kyo (Kyoto). There he came upon a small stream, the banks of which were covered with blooming irises, on which the artist has chosen to focus our attention. While viewing the beautiful flowers the nobleman composed a poem: I have a beloved wife, Familiar as the skirt of a well-worn robe, And so this distant journeying Fills my heart with grief.

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Size: 6526px × 3091px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -panel, 1615-1868, 1683-1755, art, cleveland, colour, edo, folding, gilded, heritage, ink, japan, japanese, museum, painting, pair, paper, period, screens, shik?, watanabe