Woodcutters and Fishermen 1600 - 1800

Matsumura Goshun painted these woodcutters and fishermen on a six-panel screen sometime before 1811. The figures are dwarfed by the landscape: pine trees dot the hills and mist hangs heavy in the valleys. The pine tree here is more than just a tree; it's an emblem of steadfastness, of resilience. In East Asian art, the pine is often paired with bamboo and plum blossoms, forming the "Three Friends of Winter," representing endurance in the face of adversity. These friends are visual metaphors that recur across ceramics, paintings, and textiles. Consider the way that the mists obscure parts of the landscape; this recalls the importance of atmosphere and evokes a melancholic mood, inviting viewers to reflect on the transience of life and the enduring presence of nature. These themes connect to broader human experiences of loss and contemplation. Just like the pine, this scene represents a visual language that persists through time, transforming yet remaining rooted in our shared cultural memory.