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Cherry, Plum and Willow Trees

early 17th century
Not on view
Originally the right half of a pair, this screen depicts flowering trees and a budding willow that convey the joyous spirit of spring. It includes three large cherry trees near the center and a slender branch laden with plum blossoms that belongs to a tree originally depicted on the lost left screen. Large cherry and plum blossoms are raised in low relief using gofun (ground seashell pigment). A sinuous willow tree stands in the middle of the composition, with cascading young leaves in pale green. A cluster of small dandelions fills the lower left corner.

The slender and gently swaying tree trunks; the grouping of the trees in the center rather than to a side (as is usual in folding screens); and the soft curves of the scalloped edges of the gold clouds all point to an artist working close to Kano Mitsunobu (1565–1608), eldest son of the great Momoyama period master Eitoku (1543–1590).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 桜梅柳図屏風
  • Title: Cherry, Plum and Willow Trees
  • Artist: Unidentified artist Japanese, 17th century
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Single six-panel folding screen; ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 60 3/8 in. × 11 ft. 5 9/16 in. (153.4 × 349.4 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 66 5/8 in. × 12 ft. 2 1/8 in. (169.2 × 371.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2003
  • Object Number: 2003.334
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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