Inro, zwarte lak met een rivierlandschap in makie 1700 - 1800

This Japanese Inro, a small case made of black lacquer, features a tranquil river landscape in makie. Dominant are the symbols of nature: pine trees, humble huts, and flowing water, representing a harmonious existence. The design evokes a sense of peace and simplicity deeply rooted in Japanese aesthetics. The hut motif is also prominent in Chinese paintings of the Tang Dynasty; scholar-hermits are portrayed in their sanctuaries. A hut reappears in Western art during the Renaissance, in representations of hermits. The symbol of the hermit dwelling evolved over time and continues to connect us to ancestral veneration of nature. This Inro, therefore, transcends its practical function, inviting us to connect with collective memories, where nature, contemplation, and simplicity converge across cultures and eras.