• Yi Am (1507–1566)
• Joseon Dynasty, mid-16th century
• Ink and light color on silk
• The Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Puppies are shown resting leisurely beneath a tree branch adorned with fully bloomed white flowers. A brown puppy with a spot under its chin gazes into the distance, while a white and a black puppy lie curled up together behind it. Yi Am used fine brush lines only to outline the dogs’ whiskers and contours, filling in their faces and bodies with nuanced ink washes to create volume. Yi Am’s charming and innocent portrayals of puppies had a significant influence on the Japanese art world, as seen in the dog paintings of artists such as Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達, active early seventeenth century) and Yosa Buson (与謝蕪村, 1716–1783).

Exhibition period June 10, 2025. – August 3, 2025.