豊蔵坊信海筆 夢中の猫図|Dreaming Cat
mid-17th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 11 × 16 in. (27.9 × 40.6 cm) Overall with mounting: 44 1/2 × 20 in. (113 × 50.8 cm) Overall with knobs: 44 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. (113 × 57.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of John T. Carpenter, 2019
Accession Number
2019.418.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in mid-17th-century Japan during the peaceful Edo period, *Dreaming Cat* captures a moment of quiet whimsy through the brush of Hōzōbō Shinkai. This delicate hanging scroll, rendered in ink on paper, reflects the era’s appreciation for everyday subjects infused with gentle humor and observation. The compact composition—measuring just 11 by 16 inches—invites close viewing, typical of intimate works meant for private contemplation rather than grand display. Ink painting on paper held deep significance in Japanese art, allowing artists to exploit the medium’s fluidity for expressive, spo...