Landscape with Full Moon c. 17th century

Curator: Kano Naonobu, born in 1607, painted this landscape, a world washed in the muted tones of ink on paper, now resting at Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's… ethereal. Like a dreamscape half-remembered. The peaks seem to float, islands in a sea of mist. Curator: Notice how Naonobu uses empty space, *ma*, to evoke distance and atmosphere. The composition hinges on the contrast between the solid forms and the suggestive void. Editor: It's more feeling than seeing, isn’t it? A whisper of mountains, the moon implied rather than declared. It calls to mind the Zen concept of emptiness, but also maybe a lonely night. Curator: Indeed, one could interpret the lone peaks as symbols of solitude, the moon a silent witness. Or perhaps it’s a contemplation of nature’s grandeur. Editor: Well, whatever he was thinking, it has certainly transported me. Made me think about quiet moments, about mist and ink. Curator: A fitting end for a moment spent contemplating this serene world.