Autumn in a Mountain Valley

渓山秋景図

1862

Fujimoto Tesseki 藤本鉄石

(Japanese, 1816–1863)

Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Medium

hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Measurements

Painting: 138.5 x 64.2 cm (54 1/2 x 25 1/4 in.); Mounted: 192.2 x 70.7 cm (75 11/16 x 27 13/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Kurt Gitter 1983.112

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Location

Not on view

Description

Born in Okayama in western Japan, samurai Fujimoto Tesseki learned literati painting before abandoning his local government position to travel the country studying calligraphy, military science, painting, and poetry. He funded his training with sales of his calligraphies and paintings and later founded a school of Japanese studies and martial arts near Kyoto. Despite his skill with ink, Tesseki may be better remembered for his politics. Opposed to the military government of his era, he wanted a return to direct rule by the emperor, a cause for which he died in battle.