Basho's Pond

Basho's Pond
Contemporary Sumi-e by Casey Shannon

Ever wonder who is the greatest Haiku artist of all time? In my humble opinion, that person would be Matsuo Basho. Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉, 1644 – November 28, 1694) was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku. His poetry is internationally renowned, and within Japan many of his poems are reproduced on monuments and traditional sites.

'The great age of Haiku spans only a little over a hundred years, and yet it's poetry is a river that continues to flow. Basho is neither the beginning nor the end'. ~ Sam Hamill

At the ancient pond,
a frog plunges into,
the sound of water
~ Basho

The above Haiku is my favorite of Basho's many works and it was the inspiration for my sumi-e called 'Basho's Pond'. You may purchase a fine art reproduction of this sumi-e Here.

Casey Shannon Studio