The Moving Brush in "Rough" Painting (Unpitsu soga) : [volume 1]

Tachibana, Morikuni, 1679-1748 · 1749 · Osaka: Shibukawa Yozaemon 渋川与左衛門; Shibukawa Seiemon 渋川清右衛門. Edo: Nishimura Genroku 西村源六 · 11 pictures

The Moving Brush in Rough Painting is a 1749 Japanese woodblock instruction book in one volume by Tachibana Morikuni, published in Osaka and Edo for amateur painters learning quick ink brushwork. Its pages show loose monochrome sketches of fish in swirling current, plum branches, a bird in flight, and figures rendered with ink wash and blotted outlines. A designer could take from them the energy of single expressive brush strokes, pale grey wash behind dark calligraphic line, and the economy of suggesting form with few marks.

Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art · No known copyright restrictions · More from this library