Summary Of Mountain Hermits Gazing's Downfall

Mountain Hermits Gazing at a Waterfall A piece of work that really intrigued me was, Mountain Hermits Gazing at a Waterfall, made by Japanese artist, Hashimoto Kanetsu. The medium of this work is ink and color on a paper hanging scroll; the use of paper was quite common with artists because it is much more absorbent than silk, and allowed for spontaneous effects (“Technical Aspects of Chinese Painting” 1). The length of this scroll is rather long, about 5 feet tall, which is common for hanging scrolls. This work of art was created in 1924, during Japan’s Taisho Period, a brief era between 1912 and 1926, and can be found in the Pacific Asia Art Museum in Pasadena. This work of art depicts a mix of Japanese and Chinese literati styles combined into one. This Chinese influence was prone to show up onto Kanetsu’s art considering he had taken about 30 or so trips to China, as it reads on the information provided on the museum label. Also mentioned is that Kanetsu’s passion for Chinese culture lead him to study China’s iconic …show more content…
I think there is a very religious message in the work though. Considering his travels to China and his studies of it, I believe this work was influenced by Chinese Daoist thought. The reason being because it depicts nature with the mountains and the gently looking waterfall. Secondly, it portraits hermits in nature, away from society, and they seem to be having a great time. The hermits appear very character-like and the total opposite of natural. It seems as if they’re just gazing at the easy, flowing waterfall and comparing it to their lives as recluses, who are simply just going with the flow and not stressing about society. It also goes in hand with the indigenous belief system of Japan, Shinto because it’s also a belief that spiritualizes nature. Also, since the painting shows looming mountains, that may also represent