Rain Clearing over a Summer’s Mountain1893–1914 · Study 2022.151

Context from the museum

Before entering into his apprenticeship with Yohei II, Yohei III trained as a painter in Osaka. He continued to paint throughout his career as a ceramist. Yohei IV authenticated this painting as having been done by his father in a box lid inscription dated to the summer of 1919  . The signed inscription by Yohei III in the painting’s upper right gives the title Rain Clearing Over a Summer’s Mountai n and is accompanied by his Imperial Household Artist seal. His signature seal is found in the lower left on the grassy riverbank. The composition follows a basic literati painting convention: it is divided into a foreground, middle ground, and background, with trees in the front, a temple in the middle, and mountains at the back. The brushwork, too, with its ovals of inkwash and dry-brushed dots and lines, has the casual feel of a painting made for one’s own amusement or dashed off for a friend. As part of his ceramic practice, Yohei III also made roller ends to be placed at either end of the wooden dowel around which the lower part of a hanging scroll mounting is wrapped. These served both as weights for the painting and as knobs for handling it when rolling and unrolling. The pair here, CMA 2022.152 , is made of porcelain with a green glaze.

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

A detail to notice

Seifū Yohei III studied to paint ink compositions in an abstracted, calligraphic way associated with well-read people who made paintings for their own amusement and as gifts for friends.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting measurement for Rain Clearing over a Summer’s Mountain is 32.8 cm wide and 122.1 cm high, equivalent to approximately 12.9 × 48.1 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.27:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.40 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 10.9% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 133.6 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 Rain Clearing over a Summer’s Mountain 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 on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 32.8 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?