
Wind God and Thunder God (Fujin Raijin-zu)
1630 · Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto
The two gods hurtle in from opposite edges and Sotatsu leaves the whole middle empty, so the bare gold reads as sky.
★ 8.2

The two gods hurtle in from opposite edges and Sotatsu leaves the whole middle empty, so the bare gold reads as sky.

He raises his glass and talks straight at you, painted in slashing strokes laid down about as fast as the moment they catch.

While the old woman reads his palm, three young accomplices are quietly taking his purse and lifting a medal off his neck.

A toppled glass, a lamp still smoking, a watch and a skull, all painted in browns and greys so the light does the work.