Poem 1843

This poem was created by Shinozaki Shōchiku sometime before 1851, using ink on paper. The form is that of a fan, a common format for displaying calligraphy and painting in Japan. The materials here – paper and ink – are quite basic, yet their combination with a skilled hand gives rise to a potent vehicle of expression. The ink, when applied with a brush in varying densities and speeds, creates a range of tonal values, from deepest black to the faintest gray. Notice how the artist uses the inherent absorbency of the paper to their advantage, allowing the ink to bleed slightly and create soft, atmospheric effects. This work gives a palpable sense of the artist’s presence. You can imagine Shōchiku carefully grinding his ink, preparing his brush, and then, with deliberate strokes, setting down each character. What might seem at first like a simple, even utilitarian process is in fact imbued with centuries of cultural meaning. This is where craft meets art, where the hand reveals the mind.