Kakemono Wanderer at the Waterfall

This kakemono dates from the Shôwa period and shows two wanderers dressed in straw capes on a narrow wooden bridge, while in the background a powerful waterfall plunges through densely wooded rock gorges, dominating the picture with its force and expanse and impressing upon the viewer the power of nature.

The small figures, laden with heavy burdens, lend a human scale to the tremendous natural backdrop and tell of the arduous paths along Japanese mountain trails, along which travelers and merchants once journeyed, often in wind and weather. Dark, glazed tree silhouettes set powerful accents against the misty, brightly kept background.

Painted on paper and fitted with roller ends made of bone, this hand-painted unique work is a vivid example of classical Japanese landscape painting that impressively combines the force of nature with human endeavor and leaves the viewer ample room for contemplation. Such travel motifs recall the long tradition of wandering monks and merchants who once traveled through the Japanese mountains.