A magnificent pair of screens painted in ink on an unusual
background of silver and gold by Sakaki Hyakusen (16971752), the
founding father of Nanga (Southern School) painting in Japan,
presents a shimmering vision of a watery landscape. The screens
display elements that are unusual at this early point in Nanga
paintingprecise brushwork, detailed treatment of foreground
elements, and the incorporation of spatial effects to produce
atmosphererevealing Hyakusens surprising mastery of Chinese
painting technique. James Cahill describes Hyakusen as an artist
facing two directions: one toward the celebrated past of Ming
and early Qing dynasty Chinese painting, and the other toward
the future through his influence on succeeding generations of
Nanga painters such as Yosa Buson (171683), whose screen
Landscape with Travelers is also on view. Hyakusen appears to be
anomalous in his ability to distinctly interpret Chinese
painting traditions with great subtlety and skill. Most Nanga
artists learned their techniques and