Portrait of Iwasa Matabē

The 13 Most Famous Iwasa Matabē Paintings, a Gallery Selection

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 13 works by Iwasa Matabē in our catalogue

In short

Of all the originals Iwasa Matabē left, the most famous is Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) (601). Close behind it come The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601) and The Four Pleasures (1625). Our catalog holds 13 works by Iwasa Matabē; the gallery has kept the 13 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.

1578 – 1650, Itami Most works: Cleveland Museum of Art
Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) (601) by Iwasa Matabē1. Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) 601 The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601) by Iwasa Matabē2. The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals 601 The Four Pleasures (1625) by Iwasa Matabē3. The Four Pleasures 1625

Iwasa Matabē's top 10 paintings: the gallery's choice

1
Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) (601) by Iwasa Matabē

Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu)

601 · Ink

The air hangs heavy and damp, thick with a grey veil that blurs the line between the earth and the heavens. In this quiet moment, a man stands alone on the right, his figure a solitary silhouette against the encroaching gloom. He faces a closed gate, a wooden barrier that separates him from the sanctuary of a mountain cottage. This is the scene of Yūgiri, a man caught in the…

The story behind this original
2
The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601) by Iwasa Matabē

The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals

601 · Pigment · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Introduction to Nihonga Art Movement and Iwasa Matabei The Nihonga art movement emerged during the Meiji period (1868-1912) as a response to the rise of Western-style painting known as Yōga. The term "Nihonga" literally translates to "pictures of Japan," emphasizing its connection to traditional Japanese art forms. Iwasa Matabei, an artist from this movement, is renowned for his unique style and contribution to Nihonga. The Poet Mibu no Tadamine: A…

Look closer at this work
3
The Four Pleasures (1625) by Iwasa Matabē

The Four Pleasures

1625 · Ink · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

We are looking at The Four Pleasures, a work attributed to the Japanese artist Iwasa Matabē. Created during the early Edo period, this piece reflects the refined sensibilities of a painter who lived from 1578 to 1650. It is a significant example of the artistic output from this era, capturing a specific moment in the evolution of Japanese visual language.

The story behind this original
6
“A Boat Cast Adrift” (Ukifune), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) (601) by Iwasa Matabē

“A Boat Cast Adrift” (Ukifune), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu)

601

Iwasa Matabei, also known as Araki Katsumochi, was a prominent Japanese artist of the early Tokugawa period. Born in 1578 and passing away on July 20, 1650, he specialized in genre scenes of historical events and illustrations of classical Japanese and Chinese literature, as well as portraits. Matabei's work is highly regarded for its unique style and attention to detail, making him a sought-after artist during his time. One of…

Look closer at this work
9
Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (1630) by Iwasa Matabē

Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals

1630 · Ink

In ancient Japanese court society, poetry was the quintessential literary experience. Idealized and deeply admired, poets were often commemorated in portraiture. In the early eleventh century, Fujiwara Kintō (966–1041) selected thirty-six “poetic immortals” (kasen) from the past, and their images became a popular theme in Yamato-e, traditional Japanese painting. This imaginary portrait of Archbishop Henjō was originally part of a set of album leaves comprising all thirty-six poets. Some of…

The story behind this original
10
“Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) (1640) by Iwasa Matabē

“Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari)

1640

This painting pictorializes a scene from The Tale of the Heike, the great early medieval tale of war, valor, and tragic love that commemorates the Genpei War of 1180–85, which pitted the two great courtier families—the Taira (Heike clan) and Minamoto (Genji clan)—against each other. Matabei captures one of the most pivotal and poignant episodes of the entire tale, showing one of the last heirs to the Taira family’s power,…

Look closer at this work

The Iwasa Matabē selection continues, 11 to 13

11Festival of Hōkoku Shrine (right screen) by Iwasa MatabēFestival of Hōkoku Shrine (right screen)Tokugawa Art Museum 12Festival of Hōkoku Shrine (left screen) by Iwasa MatabēFestival of Hōkoku Shrine (left screen)Tokugawa Art Museum 13Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang (1640) by Iwasa MatabēEight Views of Xiao and Xiang1640

The subjects that held Iwasa Matabē's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Portrait 2 works

The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601), Iwasa Matabē #2 The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals 601 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (1630), Iwasa Matabē #9 Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals 1630

Yamato-e 2 works

The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601), Iwasa Matabē #2 The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals 601 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (1630), Iwasa Matabē #9 Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals 1630

The museums that keep Iwasa Matabē's originals

The 5 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Iwasa Matabē Paintings from this list
Cleveland Museum of Art, ClevelandCleveland Museum of Art Cleveland 2 The Four Pleasures, Coastal Landscape
Tokugawa Art Museum, NagoyaTokugawa Art Museum Nagoya 2 Festival of Hōkoku Shrine (right screen), Festival of Hōkoku Shrine (left screen)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 1 The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals
Tokyo National Museum, TokyoTokyo National Museum Tokyo 1 Rakuchū rakugai zu (Funaki)
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MinneapolisMinneapolis Institute of Art Minneapolis 1 Portrait of the Poet Kakimoto no Hitomaro

Iwasa Matabē decade by decade: the original that defines each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

Collectors' questions about Iwasa Matabē's paintings

Which work is Iwasa Matabē most famous for?Reveal the answer

Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu) (601). The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals (601) and The Four Pleasures (1625) come next.

What are the ten most famous Iwasa Matabē paintings?Reveal the answer

Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu), The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals, The Four Pleasures, Coastal Landscape, Rakuchū rakugai zu (Funaki), “A Boat Cast Adrift” (Ukifune), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu), Portrait of the Poet Kakimoto no Hitomaro, Two Women, Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals and “Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many paintings did Iwasa Matabē leave?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 13 works by Iwasa Matabē, dated from 1594 to 1640.

In which museums do Iwasa Matabē's masterpieces hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland), Tokugawa Art Museum (Nagoya) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The museum table above lists them all.

In which years did Iwasa Matabē paint the most famous works?Reveal the answer

In 1640s: 2 of the 13 works on this page were made then, “Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) among them.

What are the first and the last famous originals of Iwasa Matabē?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Coastal Landscape (1594) and the latest “Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) (1640).

Which subjects did Iwasa Matabē choose most often?Reveal the answer

Portrait (2) and Yamato-e (2), across the 13 works on this page.

Which technique did Iwasa Matabē use most?Reveal the answer

Ink, for 3 of the 13 works on this page.

Which Iwasa Matabē works hang at the Cleveland Museum of Art?Reveal the answer

The Four Pleasures and Coastal Landscape: the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland holds 2 of the works on this page.

Iwasa Matabē: life and work

early life and influences

araki katsumochi, a prominent figure in japan's early tokugawa period, left an indelible mark on the art world with his genre scenes, historical illustrations, and captivating portraits. born in 1578, katsumochi was the son of araki murashige, a notable daimyō who met a tragic end, leading to katsumochi's adoption of his mother's family name, iwasa.

artistic style and technique

katsumochi's work is characterized by its distinctive figures, featuring large heads and delicately drawn features. his unique brush technique, blending tosa and kanō elements, allowed him to excel in both color and monochrome ink-wash painting. despite being trained under kanō naizen of the renowned kanō school, katsumochi's style was more heavily influenced by the tosa school.

notable works and legacy

one of katsumochi's most celebrated works is the series of portraits of the thirty-six poetry immortals (1640), commissioned by tokugawa iemitsu for a temple. this masterpiece, signed as "the artist matabei of the later current from tosa mitsunobu," showcases katsumochi's skill in capturing historical events and classical literature.

controversy and legacy

there is ongoing debate among scholars regarding whether katsumochi's works are indeed ukiyo-e or not. in japan, he is often regarded as the originator of ukiyo-e, while some theories suggest he was an independent tosa school painter due to his high social class patrons. conclusion katsumochi's enigmatic life and artistic contributions have left a lasting impact on japanese art. his unique style, blending traditional techniques with innovative brushwork, continues to fascinate art enthusiasts worldwide.

references

related artists and movements

All 13 works by Iwasa Matabē →