The Four Accomplishments
Iwasa Matabei (Japanese, 1578–1650)
c. 1620–50
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
211.1 × 64 cm · image: 115.9 × 51.3 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith
Accession Number
1985.269
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
This painting shows a woman playing a koto, a type of stringed instrument; a pair playing a board game called Go; a man deep in a book; and a boy painting an image of flowers. The group of fashionably dressed figures is set in and around a cozy residence, their poses conveying a sense of carefree pleasure. The scene is a playful response to a theme derived from Chinese culture that presents four notable pastimes of well-educated people.