Boat under the Moon 1800 - 1833

"Boat under the Moon" was painted with ink and color on silk by Nagasawa Roshū, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Here, we see a quiet, reflective scene, characteristic of the Edo period. Roshū uses soft brushstrokes to depict a boat navigating through a moonlit landscape, evoking a sense of solitude. The figures in the boat are dwarfed by the natural world, a common theme in East Asian art, suggesting a reverence for nature. Roshū's work provides a window into the cultural values of his time, when Japan was experiencing economic growth and artistic innovation, but also strict social hierarchies and isolationist policies. The painting encourages us to reflect on our place in the world, our connection to the environment, and the emotional resonance of quiet moments.