Painting of a Snow Landscape of Japan 

Kanō Motonobu painted this snow landscape of Japan using traditional materials - ink and paper. Ink wash painting, or Sumi-e, is a venerable tradition, where every mark counts. The painter needs complete mastery to suggest form and atmosphere, light and shadow, with a minimum of means. Look closely, and you'll see subtle gradations of tone that evoke the weight of the snow, the dampness of the air, and the stillness of the landscape. This art values simplicity and the skilled use of a brush, showing a deep understanding of ink's fluid nature. These monochrome works, often appreciated by scholars and the literati, are more than just pretty pictures. They reflect values of contemplation, reserve, and harmony with nature, while also demonstrating the amount of artistic practice needed to master this technique. They challenge our ideas about what makes "high art" and what we consider craft.