Search Collections

Japanese Two-Panel Screen: Early Summer Willow

Circa 1880, this graceful two-panel screen depicts the quiet beauty of early summer beneath the cascading branches of a mature willow tree, where a lark hovers above blooming peonies set against a luminous gold-leaf ground. Executed in mineral pigments on gold leaf, the composition reflects a refined balance of movement and stillness, with the willow's flowing branches contrasting the solidity of the tree trunk and softly rolling landscape. In Japanese painting, the willow is often associated with grace, resilience, and the changing seasons, while peonies symbolize prosperity and honor, creating a scene rich in both natural beauty and auspicious meaning. Finished with a silk brocade border, black lacquer trim, and bronze mounts, the screen bears an inscription reading Kano Sanraku, one of the most celebrated painters of the Momoyama (1573-1615) and early Edo periods, whose bold decorative style profoundly influenced subsequent generations of Japanese artists.