(Seacoast with pines and Mt. Fuji) c. 1818 - 1829

Matsumura Keibun created "Seacoast with pines and Mt. Fuji," a delicate ink-on-paper image, sometime before 1843. The pale cream paper is divided into thirds. On the left, Mount Fuji sits alone. On the right, a horizontal line creates a shore dotted with pine trees, while calligraphy fills the remaining space. The artist’s approach is defined by the power of suggestion. The mountain, the trees, and the water are merely hinted at, yet they are all immediately recognizable. Keibun plays with the surface of the paper by strategically placing calligraphic text, which, in turn, alters how we visually perceive the landscape. The poem and the scene enhance one another. The written words become an integral part of the landscape. The scene transforms into an ethereal vision, highlighting Keibun’s masterful control of ink. Ultimately, the work encourages us to contemplate the interplay between nature, poetry, and perception.