Screen Depicting Landscape

These screens present a landscape composition typical of the Unkoku School with tall, steep mountains in each corner enclosing a large stretch of water in the center, creating an immense sense of space. The surface of the water, the leaves of the trees and the distant mountains are all applied in light color, while the motifs of the sheer mountains, the buildings and fishing boats create a sharp composition and produce a clean-cut picture. The brushstrokes are characteristic of Toeki’s style, but the powdered gold that is used to portray the mist appears to be a later addition. When this screen was produced in around 1637, Toeki was already an old man and suffering from an eye disease resulting in him having to rely on his son and students to help him in his work. One consequence of this was they were able to master his style thereby providing the Unkoku School with a firm foundation.
Born in Hiroshima, the second son of UNKOKU Togan, UNKOKU Toeki (1591-1644), also known as Motonao, was active during the Momoyama and early Edo periods, moving to Hagi with his father where they were employed by MORI Terumoto. After the death of his elder brother, Tooku, he became the second leader of the Unkoku School and referred to himself as, ‘Seshhu’s descendant’. He moved to Kyoto where he was active in a variety of fields and received the honorary title of ‘Hokkyo’. One of the characteristics of his work can be seen in the way he carefully depicted landscapes through the use of geometric patterns. This work is signed ‘Sesshu’s descendant, Unkoku Toeki’ followed by his signature.