Artwork
Two Cranes and a Plum Tree
Two Cranes and a Plum Tree is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Ishikawa Toyonobu. It dates from 1741 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Two Cranes and a Plum Tree is a painting depicting two white cranes beneath a flowering plum tree, with a bright sun and bamboo stalks framing the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The cranes are symbols of good fortune, while the plum tree and bamboo represent strength and flexibility. Together, these elements evoke a celebratory atmosphere, likely associated with the New Year.
Technique & Style
This painting is a copyist's drawing, likely created from the artist's original sketches. It was intended as a preparatory work for a print, but its survival suggests that the final print was never produced.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ishikawa Toyonobu spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he carved and printed the everyday scenes of city life.
