Kakinomoto no Hitomaroearly 1300s · Study 1977.203

Context from the museum

Among Japan’s greatest poets, Kakinomoto no Hitomaro’s (c. 660–724) portrait was often displayed at poetry competitions. Here, he gazes up at a falling cherry blossom, his writing box before him, brush and paper in his hands. A short biography and one of his poems are inked on painted rectangles meant to look like decorated papers. The first part of the poem has been mostly lost, but from what remains, it is possible to recognize it as Dimly, dimly in the morning mist that lies over Akashi Bay, my longings follow with the ship that vanishes behind the distant isle. —Translated by Robert H. Bower and Earl Roy Miner

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The landscapes at the top and bottom of the painting depict Akashi Bay, with its famous pines along the shore, and a lone figure in a boat.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting measurement for Kakinomoto no Hitomaro is 39 cm wide and 107.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 15.4 × 42.4 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.36:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.42 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 13.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 130.5 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Kakinomoto no Hitomaro in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 39 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?