The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons

Style of Ogata Kenzan Japanese

18th century

Not on view

Four tiles in the shape of poem cards feature abbreviated landscapes executed with soft, wash-like brushstrokes in underglaze enamel. Each bears a verse by one of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals, famous poets from past eras, first grouped together in the eleventh century. The softness of the painted motifs contrasts with Ogata Kenzan’s strong, idiosyncratic calligraphy. A master ceramic artist, Kenzan was the younger brother of the great Rinpa painter Ogata Kōrin (1658–1716).

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons, Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743), Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels , Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

乾山様式色絵三十六歌仙和歌色紙型陶盤

Title: Tiles with Waka (Court Poems) of the Four Seasons

Artist: Style of Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743)

Period: Edo period (1615–1868)

Date: 18th century

Culture: Japan

Medium: Stoneware with polychrome underglaze enamels

Dimensions: Each: H. 7 5/8 in. (19.3 cm); W. 7 3/16 in. (18.3 cm); Th. 3/16 in. (.5 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Credit Line: Fishbein-Bender Collection, Promised Gift of T. Richard Fishbein and Estelle P. Bender

Object Number: SL.15.2018.1.48a–d

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.