Quiet Pleasure near a Valley

In the upper part of the tall composition a rugged rocky mountain and a softer peak behind it are painted in blue. At the middle a thin leafless tree rises, and in the foreground dark green trees like pines grow thick. At the lower right something like a small roof can be seen. Pale blue-green and yellow are used throughout, giving a clear, bright impression.

According to the museum's commentary, from the mountains to the trees in the foreground the influence of Taiga's style in his thirties is strong, and the work stays faithful to that style. Within a calm atmosphere, bright colors of a feminine feel and soft, flowing brushwork are said to express a world of graceful beauty.

Gyokuran was born in Kyoto, learned waka from her mother and Nanga from Yanagisawa Kien, and later studied Nanga under Ike no Taiga. She married Taiga when he was thirty, was skilled in painting in Taiga's manner, and is said to have many fine small works. This work is called well suited as a pair to Taiga's "Hermitage Above a Valley" and one of Gyokuran's fine pieces. It is 128.5 cm high and 54.5 cm wide.