Tadasu Forest on a moonlit night

Tadasu no Mori (Forest of Atonement) is the wooded grounds to the south of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. In this painting the moon’s reflection on the surface of the water creates a serene atmosphere. The forest was famous for its beautiful scenery and was frequently mentioned in classical literature and poems such as the early eleventh century Makura no soshi (the Pillow Book) by Sei Shonagon, the eleventh century Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, and the early thirteenth century Shin kokin wakashu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poems).

Mochizuki Gyokusen’s works show elements of realism influenced by the Kishi and Shijo Japanese painting schools based in Kyoto as well as by Western painting. He received numerous awards at exhibitions in Japan and was awarded prizes at the Paris and Chicago World’s Fairs. In 1910 he became an official artist to the Emperor Meiji.