<div class="description">
The subject of this painting comes from a 10th-century narrative poem. It tells of a young nobleman's journey into the distant countryside, far from the cluttered environment of the capital (Kyoto). There he came upon a small stream, the banks of which were covered with blooming iris plants. A simple eight-plank bridge allowed travelers to admire the beauty of this natural site. While viewing the beautiful flowers the nobleman composed a poem: <br><br>I have a beloved wife, <br>Familiar as the skirt of a well-worn robe, <br>And so this distant journeying <br>Fills my heart with grief. <br><br>Earlier compositions depicting this scene included the wooden footbridge, supports, and flower stalks. Here the artist has allowed the imagination of the viewer to "fill in" the scene.</div>
<div class="fn value">
Watanabe Shiko</div>
1700<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1700-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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