“Nothing is more hallowing than the union of kindred spirits in art. At the moment of meeting, the art lover transcends himself. At once, he is and is not. He catches a glimpse of Infinity, but words cannot voice his delight, for the eye has no tongue.” I carry this sentiment, expressed by Okakura Kakuzo in his The Book of Tea, whenever I visit an art museum because I am eager to be united with the artists and the kindred spirits who have entered before me. It’s always a delight to find at least one tea-themed artwork in most collections, and these serendipitous encounters are tucked away in my mind and cataloged on my computer. I share the following tea artworks from my journeys in hopes that we, too, will be united as kindred spirits in the art of tea.
A Family of Three
Richard Collins, circa 1727
Victoria & Albert Museum (London, England)
Portraitists of this era were expected to show their clients dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by valuable possessions, indicating their wealth and social
