“Bamboo Tree”

Three branches of a bamboo tree are being blown in the wind.
The branches are thin but the whole art is filled with a sense of tension.
A leaf is drawn with shades of colors and it depicts the light on the leaf.
This is a typical art drawn by Ikeno Taiga whose art style is unique as you can see here the rhythm of his brushwork.

Ikeno Taiga (1723-1776) was born in Kyōto.

After his father passed away when Taiga was 4 years old, he learnt calligraphy and performed it in Manpuku-ji Temple.
When he was a teen, Taiga was supported by Yanagisawa Kien, who already perceived his talent at that time.

Some of his works are based on Chinese history, and some on Japanese ladscapes.
He was influenced by Chinese and European paintings.