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Volume 4: No. 2, April 2007
About This Image
Sumi-e, meaning “black ink painting,” is a Japanese form of East
Asian ink and wash painting. Wash painting originated in China during
the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), and Zen Buddhist monks introduced the
form in Japan in the mid-14th century (1). Sumi-e uses simple materials
— the same black ink and fine-point brushes as calligraphy, paper, and
water — but the form requires great technical skill and training. Once a
stroke is made it cannot be altered. Preparation of the materials is a
form of spiritual meditation. Traditional ink is molded and fired into
an ink stick, and the artist grinds the stick in water against a slate
stone, a rhythmic motion that clears and prepares the mind for
composition.
Generally, sumi-e paintings depict natural objects rather
than human subjects, and empty space in the painting is a common
feature, suggesting both timelessness and mutability according to Zen
Buddhist traditions. The paintings are often marked with the artist’s
stamp and commonly include a word, such as the word “beauty” shown here,
or a poem that complements the painting’s message. Sumi-e and other
forms of wash paintings do not seek to represent subjects in a realistic
way but rather to express the essential characteristics of a subject,
giving the artist creative freedom in expressing the natural world. This
image is partially based on the creation myth of the Ainu, the
indigenous people of Japan, which depicts the world resting on the
backbone of a giant fish. This issue on international health celebrates
the diversity of human expression in various cultures, the technical
skill and training of public health professionals, and the beauty and
elegance of their efforts. Just as the Ainu’s fish provides a place for
the world to rest, the skills and efforts of public health professionals
provide a structure of support that unifies our commitment to global
health.
References
- Answers.com. Ink and wash painting. New York: Answers Corporation
[cited 01 Mar 2007]. Available from: http://www.answers.com/topic/ink-and-wash-painting*.
Cover artist: Kristen Immoor
Send feedback to artist
*URLs for nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a
service to our users. URLs do not constitute an endorsement of any organization
by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is
not responsible for the content of Web pages found at these URLs.
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