頼山陽筆 書状|Letter
ca. 1820–28
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 6 1/8 × 12 in. (15.6 × 30.5 cm) Overall with mounting: 42 5/8 × 15 3/16 in. (108.3 × 38.6 cm)
Classification
Calligraphy
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2022
Accession Number
2022.432.20
Art Historical Context
This exquisite hanging scroll, titled *Letter* and penned by the renowned Japanese scholar Rai San’yō around 1820–28, showcases the artistry of Edo-period (1615–1868) calligraphy. Crafted in ink on paper, the compact image measures just 6 1/8 × 12 inches, yet its elegant mounting extends to over 42 inches, inviting viewers to unroll and savor it in traditional fashion. Rai San’yō1780–1832), a Confucian historian and poet celebrated for his seminal work *Nihon Gaishi* (Unofficial History of Japan), blended scholarly depth with bold calligraphic flair, drawing from classical Chinese models while...