Kōno Shūson (1890-1987) was one of those who devoted themselves to the promotion of Nanga (a school of Japanese painting inspired by Chinese painting that flourished after the mid-Edo period) after leaving for Kyōto at the age of 18 to thoroughly study Nanga. At the beginning of his studies of Nanga, he could only study it in Japan with copies. He, however, had absorbed the techniques of expression, in addition to many other subjects such as landscapes, kachō (flower and bird), and human figures, which were reflected in his works since he visited China for the first time in 1923, followed by many additional trips. He also served as the president of the Japan Nanga Institute, where he taught the next generation of artists.

This work is a drawing of Mt. Fuji at the dawn painted by Kōno Shūson. He was selected for the 11^th Bunten exhibition in 1917 for the first time. As he made his debut as a painter of large-scale paintings, this work also shows a bold depiction of the iconic Japanese mountain, Mt. Fuji, with strong brushwork. The skillful use of sumi ink and white pigment to depict the mountain surface is a quite masterpiece. This work, as if condensing the dignity of Mt. Fuji, can be said to show Shūson’s true talent.