Mountain Peak, by Ike no Taiga

A mountain peak drawn in vivid ink appears in almost sacred form as it rises amidst the enveloping mist and piercing light. The bare structure of the briefly drawn mountain, the additional touches of green in pine and hillside texture, and individual brush strokes to evoke steep hillside and tumbling waterfall－an entire world expands in these concise strokes. This painting seems to reflect the complete lack of the vulgar or worldly in the many episodes that make up our understanding of Taiga's poor but honorable life. Like the expression, "one peak rises above the rest," this mountain seems to be an evocation of Taiga's lofty character.