Pine trees and waterfall
1615-1868
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1906.9
Tags
About this artwork
To 1906
Art Historical Context
**Pine Trees and Waterfall a captivating Japanese hanging scroll painting (*kakemono*) from the Edo period (1615–1868), invites viewers into a serene yet dynamic landscape. Created by an unknown artist during Japan's time of relative peace and cultural flourishing under the Tokugawa shunate, this work exemplifies traditional East Asian ideals of harmony with nature. Pine trees, symbols of enduring strength and longevity in Japanese art, tower gracefully alongside a cascading waterfall, evoking the raw power and timeless beauty of the natural world. As a *kakemono*, the painting was designed t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...