Birds in Willows and Blossoming Peach Tree

ca. 1760s

Not on view

Buson’s painting style translates Chinese motifs and styles into a softer, freer expression of Japanese taste. Thus, while the compositional elements here are based upon authoritative Ming and Qing prototypes, the artist executed features of the natural world with looser brushstrokes in more subdued tones. Buson gave a witty personal expression to this work, which is based on conventional Qing-dynasty painting. He juxtaposes the two birds so that the female, on the bough above, seems to peer with a critical eye at her mate below, who is self-absorbed in the joy of his own song.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

与謝蕪村筆　柳緑桃紅図
Title: Birds in Willows and Blossoming Peach Tree
Artist: Yosa Buson (Japanese, 1716–1783)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1760s
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: 51 1/2 × 24 5/8 in. (130.8 × 62.5 cm)
Overall with mounting: 87 3/4 × 30 1/4 in. (222.9 × 76.8 cm)
Overall with knobs: 87 3/4 × 32 3/4 in. (222.9 × 83.2 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
Object Number: 1975.268.96
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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