Search Collections

Japanese Four Panel Screen: Tibetan Mountain Monastery

This is an exceptionally powerful and evocative four-panel screen depicting a sprawling Tibetan monastery set against a backdrop of massive, towering mountains. Executed in ink on paper, the work masterfully combines traditional Japanese ink painting techniques (sumi-e) with a distinctly Tibetan subject matter, creating a piece that is both grand in scale and rich in atmospheric detail. The artist, Tetsuzan, whose signature and seal are clearly visible, utilizes a striking monochromatic palette primarily composed of various shades of black and gray ink (sumi). * Ink Wash (Bokashi): The background mountains are rendered with soft, nuanced ink washes (bokashi) that convey mist, cloud, and immense depth, emphasizing the vastness and rugged isolation of the Himalayan landscape. The monastery, likely the Potala Palace in Lhasa, dominates the foreground, rising steeply from the base. The subject is a profound depiction of a spiritual and architectural landmark: * The Monastery: It appears anchored firmly on the rugged terrain, symbolizing stability and enduring faith. The long, stepped paths and the presence of stupas (chörtens) in the foreground add to the spiritual context and guide the viewer's eye into the scene. Signature and seal read: Tetsuzan