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Sunrise in the Woods
Early morning sunlight filters through a dense forest, throwing forms into deep shadow. Details of the composition emerge through careful observation: a figure driving cattle on the left, a fallen log outlined by the raking sunlight, and a large silhouetted tree. By softening contours and blurring forms, Inness evokes a sense of the spiritual essence of the natural world.
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm) |
| Object Number | 2013.1.6 |
| Acquisition | Gift of Frank and Katherine Martucci, 2013 |
| Status | On View |
Image Caption
George Inness, Sunrise in the Woods, 1887, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute, gift of Frank and Katherine Martucci, 2013.1.6
Possibly the artist; Newman E. Montross, 1849-1932, New York (1887, his sale, Moore’s Art Galleries, 11 March 1887, no. 70); General Samuel Thomas, 1840-1903, New York and Calvin S. Brice, 1845-1898, Ohio and New York (by gift to Sir William van Horne); Sir William van Horne, 1843-1915, Montreal (by 1898-1915); his estate[1] (1915-1973, sale, estate of Sir William van Horne, Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 28 Sept. 1973, no. 45); (Sotheby’s, New York, 24 May 1990, no. 49); Frank and Katherine Martucci, New York (1990-2013, by gift to the Clark Art Institute); Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 2013. [1] Sir William van Horne’s estate line of descent: Lady Adaline van Horne, d. 1929, and Adaline and Richard Benedict, Montreal, his wife and children, by descent (1915-1929); Adaline and Richard Benedict van Horne, d. 1931, Montreal, Sir William’s children, by descent (1929-1931); Adaline van Horne, d. 1941, Montreal, Sir William’s daughter, by descent (1931-1941); William Cornelius Covenhoven van Horne, 1907-1946, her nephew, Richard Benedict’s son, by descent (1941-1946); Margaret van Horne (née Hannon), d. 1987, Montreal, his wife, by descent (1946-1973)
Komorebi – Sunlight Through Trees for a Serene Experience
The Japanese language is so beautiful that there is even a word to explain a beautiful phenomenon of sunlight filtering through trees and forests. The Japanese word is komorebi [木漏れ日] and in this article we are going to talk a little about it, its meaning and origin.
The word komorebi [木漏れ日] is written with the characters of tree [木] glow, filter, leak [漏れる] and sun [日]. She poetically describes the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees before hitting the ground, creating those beautiful images.
Komorebi can refer to either the light seen between the trees or that curtain of light or the effects the sun has on the ground filtered through the trees. This phenomenon is much appreciated by artists, photographers, poets and other adventurers.
How to enjoy a Komorebi?
You can witness the phenomenon of sunlight hitting the leaves of trees at any time of year or any place. Komorebi is especially noticeable when the sun is low and fog or smoke increases its effect, particularly in spring.
When walking through a forest the komorebi can provide a fantastic experience that transforms simple trees into an inspiring and special landscape perfect for photographs and paintings.
It’s amazing how the Japanese language provides untranslatable words for poetic phenomena like komorebi. There are words in other languages that try to explain this phenomenon, but none directly refer to the sun hitting the trees.
In English there is only the expression sunlight, but it can refer to any sunlight. In Japanese there is this same word which is youkou [陽光] which can be translated to sunshine; sunlight.
Have you ever been in a forest when the rays of light penetrated the leaves and formed those fine images in the article? What do you think about the Japanese language having a specific word for it? If you liked this short article, share it and leave your comments.
Below we will leave a gallery of images:
Komorebi — Seek the light
Imagine that you are walking through a forested area in the daytime. As you are passing through the tall dense trees, you suddenly come across a bright beam of sunlight passing through the leaves and branches, throwing a shaft of light all the way through to the forest floor.
This is Komorebi, a Japanese word that means the sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees. There is no equivalent word in English that captures the essence of this word. Komorebi has a wider connotation than just the literal meaning of the phrase. It is not just about the beam of sunlight but also about the interesting interplay of light and shadow amidst the leaves.
Furthermore, Komorebi is about the feeling, not just the sight. For speakers of Japanese, the word evokes a beautiful, warm and silent mental image of a pleasurable natural setting, with the sparkling rays of sunlight dispelling the shadows cast by the trees.
The concept of Komorebi reminds us to look for positivity in little things that can help dispel the shadows of doubt or anxiety. In every situation that appears grim and dark, there are little bright spots that can make the situation more tolerable. Komorebi is about finding those little shafts of light and pausing to get re-energised, before going on.
Western philosophy tells us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. In a very interesting contrast, Komorebi reminds us to find those thin shafts of light in between, while passing through the dark tunnel. Life is a journey, not a destination. Komorebi nicely highlights the point that very often in our mindless pursuit of the light at the end of the tunnel, we fail to recognise many little beams of light that have already passed by.
Very often, we put things off for another day and make conditional promises to ourselves and others…”I will take up painting after I retire from my job”, “Let the children grow up, then I will travel the world”. The recent pandemic has challenged many of these delusions, with people waking up to the reality that the here-and-now matters most, and there is no guarantee of the afterward. We have heard of the new wave of pandemic home chefs and pandemic gardeners, fueled by a passion to explore new interests while being forced to stay indoors.
Komorebi is about weaving your passions into your daily life, learning to look for the light while passing through the shadows, and having faith that each little shaft of light will continue to light up your path.
Life is too short to be lived in the shadows. It’s the little things that give life its magic — the earthy fragrance that comes with the first rain shower, the melodious tones of the cuckoo bird in the morning, the sound of the waves breaking on the beach, or the beam of sunlight cutting through the forest.
Let’s open our hearts and minds to fully experience each moment of every day, shining the light to highlight the perfections in ourselves and others.
