Li Bai in Stroll (李白行吟圖)
Liang Kai (梁楷, c.1140-1210), Song Dynasty (960-1279)
Hanging scroll, ink on paper, 81.1 x 30.5 cm, Tokyo National Museum
This picture shows the genius poet Li Bai (李白, 701-762) in all his splendor using simple strokes of ink. The owner's seal applied to the painting means "seal of great ancient official" in Paspa script and is said to be the seal of Anigo who served the Yuan dynasty. From a copy owned by the Kanô clan, it is known to have formed a pair with a picture by Dongfang Shuo (東方朔, ca.161-93 BC) in the Edo period (1603-1868). The fact that it used to be owned by Matsudaira Fumai, shows its noble origins.
