Calligraphy with Willow and Swallows

Ikkyū Sōjun’s “Calligraphy with Willow and Swallows” is a hanging scroll from the 1400s. Ink on paper. Muromachi period, Japan.

The scroll features calligraphy alongside a depiction of willow branches and swallows. A typical combination in Japanese art symbolizing grace and freedom.

Ikkyū Sōjun was a Zen Buddhist monk known for his unconventional approach to Zen practices. His work often infused art with Zen ideals.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.463