Ōtagaki Rengetsu 大田垣蓮月 (1791-1875)

These two magnificent fan paintings with inscribed poems by Ōtagaki Rengetsu were collected by an admirer of her work, mounted as hanging scroll and matched as a pair of work representing Japan's most important seasons: spring and autumn. The fan paintings were not originally made as a pair which becomes clear when we consider the two different sizes of both fans. Also, the given age in Rengetsu's signatures indicate that both works were created in two consecutive years, possibly in the respected seasons. While the autumn scroll with painted pine trees under a darkened autumn sky are signed with her age of 81 the spring scroll with blossoming cherry flowers are signed with her age of 82. This assumption is supported by the fact, that Rengetsu's birthday is considered to be on February 10, just before the beginning of spring.

While the poems are signed by Rengetsu, the paintings are not which leads to the conclusion that they were painted by Rengetsu herself. However, this question needs further investigation since there is an unidentified seal just next to the cherry tree's trunk which leaves room for further interpretations. 

Both fan's bear masterfully arranged compositions of a painting and Rengtsu's own inscription with one of her poems. The autumn scroll is showing two pine trees on the right side of the fan, The upper rim of the fan is darkened with ink and traces of silver to give the impression of the rainy autumnal season. The rather dark and moody atmosphere of the painting is, however, skillfully contratested by Rengetsu with her poem, that stresses the nun's joy of seclusion and the associated opportunity to reflect on the transformation of nature and the impermanence of wordly phenomena. Her poem reads:

The world's dust

Swept aside

Here in my hermitage

I have all I need— 

The wind in the pines.

While the autumn scrolls describes a deeply Buddhist and reflective theme, the spring scroll, in contrast, plays with the human emotion of the desire for beauty. The fan was painted with a strong trunk of a cherry tree executed in light ink, that is crossed by a slim branch with some foliage and a couple of white cherry blossoms with a soft pink tint. The paper fan was highlighted with two "clouds" of cut gold leaves that support the rather light and ease atmosphere of the work which is further stressed by Rengetsu's poem:

Imagining coming tomorrow

To see them again...

Such a shame

To Pick a branch as souvenir

Of these mountain cherry blossoms.

INQUIRE