Ōtagaki Rengetsu 大田垣蓮月 (1791-1875)

A very interesting work by Ōtagaki Rengetsu and a yet unidentified artist showing a painting of turtles and an accompanying poem. Viewed in the Japanese manner from right to left, the turtles are positioned on the right side of the painting vertically arranged pointing with their heads to the beginning of the poem. The poem reads:

10,000 ages—

to endure so long

so well

downstream waters

from Turtle Tail Peak.

 The poem is written in four lines, of which the first line starts at the highest point of the the work`s composition, while the lines next to start succesively lower. This special composition of turtle painting and poem is actually forming a triangle reffering in a visual way to the mountain mentioned in the poem. On a second look one recognizes a light blue brushstroke under the turtles evoking the idea of streaming water. 

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