Old Pines

置酒高堂且論文　 梅花爲我吐清芬 We set out wine in the high hall and then converse of letters; Plum blossoms for us spit forth their pure blossoms. Bamboo and pines were the principal subjects in Kodōjin’s folding screens from the 1930s. In October 1932, he painted this pair of Old Pines that illustrates two gnarled trees bent toward each other. It is quite possible that this was a commission, but unfortunately no records have survived.