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Autumn Landscape by Kawabata Gyokushō

Autumn Landscape

Kawabata Gyokushō · 1906

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“Stop to appreciate the serene beauty of this Japanese landscape. It captures the essence of autumn with its misty mountain, delicate trees, and a palette that evokes a cool, contemplative mood.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

A misty, cool atmosphere defines Kawabata Gyokushō's "Autumn Landscape," created in 1906. The painting draws the viewer into a quiet scene where a mountain looms in the distance, partially obscured by soft, atmospheric effects. The artist employs a restrained palette, with subtle shifts in tone and color to suggest the depth and chill of the season. This work reflects the influence of the Maruyama school, known for its naturalistic approach and emphasis on delicate brushwork, which is evident in the rendering of the trees and the ethereal quality of the fog. The composition invites contemplation, presenting a view that feels both expansive and intimately observed, capturing the transient beauty of autumn.

DETAILS
Artist
Kawabata Gyokushō
Date
1906
Location
Metropolitan Museum of Art
ART MOVEMENTS
Nihonga
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What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Autumn Landscape
01

The way the mountain peaks fade into the mist, suggesting great distance.

02

The delicate, almost calligraphic lines used for the bare branches of the trees.

03

Subtle shifts in the gray and brown tones that create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

04

The soft, diffused light that seems to emanate from within the misty sky.

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THE ARTIST

Kawabata Gyokushō

1842–1913 · Empire of Japan

Kawabata Gyokushō was a prominent Japanese painter known for his delicate ink and color works on silk.

Read Gyokushō’s full story
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by Gyokushō

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Paris Street; Rainy Day Paris Street; Rainy Day 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago Cat Seen from Behind Cat Seen from Behind 1868 · Metropolitan Museum of Art River Scene with Rocky Hills in Background River Scene with Rocky Hills in Background 1868 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Bird at the Water's Edge Bird at the Water's Edge 1889 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Cock and Hen Cock and Hen 1889 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Crane Among Reeds Crane Among Reeds 1889 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Pair of Ducks Pair of Ducks 1889 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Small Birds and Bamboo Small Birds and Bamboo 1889 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
EXPLORE THE MOVEMENT

More from Nihonga

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At the Window At the Window Saburosuke
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More works to explore

Beyond Gyokushō and Nihonga: works from the same years.

Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Same era · 1890s–1920s Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago Frauenkopf vor Sonnenblumen Same era · 1890s–1920s Frauenkopf vor Sonnenblumen Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1906 · Museum Frieder Burda Barber Same era · 1890s–1920s Barber Mikhail Larionov · 1907 · Russian Museum Antwerp Same era · 1890s–1920s Antwerp Georges Braque · 1906 · Art Institute of Chicago Nude with a Pitcher Same era · 1890s–1920s Nude with a Pitcher Pablo Picasso · 1906 · Art Institute of Chicago Olive Trees at Collioure Same era · 1890s–1920s Olive Trees at Collioure Henri Matisse · 1906 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Consolation Same era · 1890s–1920s Consolation Edvard Munch · 1907 · Munch Museum Mont Sainte-Victoire Same era · 1890s–1920s Mont Sainte-Victoire Paul Cézanne · 1904 · Detroit Institute of Arts
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