Connoisseur's Sketchbook by Kano Tan'yÅ« (Tan'yÅ« shukuzu), Copies of Buddhist Paintings in Two Volumes Possibly 1668

Curator: The “Connoisseur's Sketchbook” by Kano Tan'yū, dating back to the Edo period, comprises two volumes of copies of Buddhist paintings. The meticulous details are striking. Editor: Yes, there's a somber, devotional quality that emanates even from the rolled form—a quiet assertion of cultural and religious preservation. Curator: Precisely. Tan'yū’s copies served a didactic purpose, preserving and disseminating important Buddhist iconography and painting styles. Editor: Considering the political climate of the Edo period, these copies represent a vital act of cultural memory, resisting potential erasure through documentation. Curator: The composition, even in these cylindrical forms, displays a refined aesthetic sensibility, highlighting a commitment to tradition. Editor: Absolutely, and the very act of copying becomes a political statement, emphasizing continuity and resistance against cultural hegemony. Curator: Indeed. A fascinating intersection of art and cultural context. Editor: It leaves one pondering the role of art as an act of resilience.