"Parting Spring", Kawai Gyokudo

Parting Spring by Kawai Gyokudo

Photo by The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

  1. Why do you think this piece is called “Parting Spring”?
  2. What things make you think of spring?
  3. Though it's hard to tell on screen, this piece is very big (over 6'x12'). Imagine creating a piece of art this size. How is it different from creating a small piece?
  4. This piece is from Japan, but Seattle has cherry blossoms too.
    5. View Seattle's cherry blossoms
    People having a picnic at the University of Washington campus

    Photo by The University of Washington

Learn more about this piece

This piece was painted in 1916 by Japanese artist Kawai Gyokudo. It uses a paper folding screen as its canvas. It was inspired by a trip to Nagatoro, Saitama, where Kawai spent time sketching and boating on the Nagatoro River.