Kano Shōei, Birds and Flowers
Mather, 1948.128.1 · The Cleveland Museum of Art, Open Access (CC0)View original →
Kano Shōei

Birds and Flowers

late 1500s

Current Collection

Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Medium
One of a pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
155.9 × 339.4 cm
Status
In Museum Collection
Collect24 Art ID
C24-113163

The landscape depicted in this pair of screens follows a seasonal progression from right to left, starting with the blossoming plum of early spring and ending with late autumn peonies. A variety of smaller birds are positioned throughout the scene, and a trio of swimming ducks is bracketed by early summer irises and early autumn bellflowers at the center. While some raptors (birds of prey) terrorize a pheasant and an egret (a waterfowl) to the right, a peacock and peahen converse to the left. Hawks are associated with military prowess, while the peafowl suggest cultural prestige.

Provenance

Mather, 1948.128.1

Registry history

  • late 1500s — Recorded in the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

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Auction history

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