The Four Accomplishments c. 1700

Kano Tsunenobu painted "The Four Accomplishments" scroll with ink and color on paper. Here, the literati are seen enjoying the four arts associated with the scholar-official class of ancient China. The four gentlemanly arts – *qin* (a stringed instrument), *qi* (the game of go), *shu* (calligraphy), and *hua* (painting) – were viewed as a means of self-cultivation, and symbols of refinement. As we see in this image, they often involved serene landscapes. The theme of the literati gathering appears repeatedly in Chinese and Japanese art, echoing in various forms and styles across centuries. These images evoke a sense of nostalgia for an idealized past. Think about the tradition of the pastoral scene in European art as well, going all the way back to antiquity, as it evokes the same kind of collective memory and yearning for a simpler, more harmonious existence. The motif of the scholar in nature has a powerful, enduring presence. It resurfaces and evolves, reflecting the values and aspirations of different cultures and eras.