Courtier Enjoying Plum Blossoms late 17th - early 18th century

This scroll painting, “Courtier Enjoying Plum Blossoms,” was created by Tosa Mitsutaka in Japan, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It’s made with ink and color on paper, a traditional approach that emphasizes subtlety and refinement. The materials themselves are not intrinsically precious. The effect comes from the artist’s mastery of brushwork, ink density, and the controlled application of pigment. These skills would have been honed through years of practice, often passed down through generations. The Tosa school, to which Mitsutaka belonged, specialized in precisely this kind of elegant, detailed painting, often depicting courtly life and classical literature. Consider the labor involved in creating the paper, grinding the inks, and mixing the colors. The entire process speaks to a culture deeply invested in skill, patience, and the aesthetic appreciation of natural beauty, making no separation between art and craft.