Unknown Artist | New Moon Over the Rustic Gate

Artist: Tawaraya Sōtatsu | 俵屋 宗達 (c. 1570 – c. 1640)
Date: 1405
Publisher: 
Title: New Moon Over the Rustic Gate
Series: Exceptional Beauties | 美の美
Medium: Offset Lithograph 
Size: 30 x 42cm

This work is officially designated as a national treasure in Japan. It depicts a scene from Tu Fu's famous poem, "Southern Neighborhood". This image, originally painted on a hanging scroll, is one of few images whose exact year of completion is known. It is the oldest existing image of Japanese work in this genre.

Inscription
Evening dusk falls on the riverside village of white sand and green bamboo. The new moon shines anew on the people saying goodbye at a rustic gate.