Priest Riding a Donkey c. 17th century

Kano Naonobu painted this scroll of ink on paper depicting a Priest Riding a Donkey sometime in the first half of the 17th century. It’s a work that brings together the aesthetics of Zen Buddhism and the socio-political realities of the Edo period in Japan. Naonobu belonged to the Kano school, which had become the official painting academy of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate. The Kano style was characterized by its bold outlines, decorative patterns, and its synthesis of Japanese and Chinese painting techniques. Here, we see the artist playing with the Zen themes of simplicity and spontaneity, using a minimal number of brushstrokes to capture the essence of the subject. The figure of the priest on a donkey may be a subtle commentary on the role of religious institutions in society, perhaps suggesting a humble and unassuming approach to spiritual authority. To fully appreciate this work, we might turn to historical texts about the Kano school and the social status of artists in the Edo period. We can also analyze the religious and political dynamics of the time, enriching our understanding of this painting as a product of a specific cultural context.