On the left side of this painting, the words “千年緑” (meaning 'Evergreen') are revealed through a light ink wash applied with an especially dry brush. These words subtly reference the...
On the left side of this painting, the words “千年緑” (meaning "Evergreen") are revealed through a light ink wash applied with an especially dry brush. These words subtly reference the pine tree, whose trunk ascends throughout the composition. Rendered in a breathy, ephemeral ink wash so delicate that they could be mistaken for falling leaves or an extension of the tree’s branches, the words enhance the ethereal quality of the scene. Despite their delicate appearance, the vivacity of each brushstroke imbues the painting with energy and power.
The “double lines” created by the dry brush suggest movement, with the branches and leaves appearing to ripple in the wind and the trunk swaying where it narrows. The ink is most dense at the base of the trunk, emphasizing its strength and stability. This is a classic and modern example of Arakawa Toyozo’s Suibokuga 水墨畵, or ink wash painting.
On the lower right: The dated inscription reads: 昭和(52年)丁巳 (ひのと み) Showa 52 (1977). It is signed with Arakawa Toyozo's alternative name 斗出庵 Tosyutuan*
*Note: Arakawa Toyozo had begun using the two "Literati" or artists names 無田陶人 Muta Tojin and 斗出庵 Tosyutuan after 1972.