Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) / early to mid-1600s
The Bird's Nest Patriarch
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs The Bird's Nest Patriarch as painting (Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) · early to mid-1600s).
This painting is based on the 1602 illustrated publication Marvelous Traces of Immortals and Buddhas (Chinese: Xianfo qizong ).
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as hanging scroll; ink on paper and credits Tawaraya Sōtatsu (Japanese, c. 1570–c. 1640).
The museum's collection notes: Tawaraya Sōtatsu’s painting was inspired by a 1602 Chinese book that featured images of legendary Chinese Buddhist experts and Daoist sages. The monk portrayed here is Niaoge, which literally means “Bird’s Nest.” He was a Zen practitioner who favored the isolation of treetops, from which he offered advice to the perplexed. The posture of the single figure suggests a dialogue with someone below. Sōtatsu was a master of the “boneless” ( mokkotsu ), or un-outlined, style of ink painting that relies on layered pools of ink wash for effect.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtThe Bird's Nest PatriarchOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.