Who painted 狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons?

狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons was painted by Kano Sanboku in 1683.

Where can I see 狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons?

狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons?

狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons

Kano Sanboku , 1683

狩野山卜筆四季花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Kano Sanboku. It dates from 1683 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1999.204.1, .2
Credit line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1999

About this work

Overview

Created in 1683 by Kano Sanboku, this work consists of two six‑panel folding screens painted with ink, pigments and gold on paper. The panels are arranged to form a continuous landscape that juxtaposes a sparse, sandy ground on the left with a more verdant scene on the right, centered around a blossoming tree and various birds in flight.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a tranquil natural setting that reflects the four seasons through flora and avian life. A solitary bird glides toward a flowering tree, while other birds perch among branches, suggesting the cyclical passage of time and the harmonious relationship between sky, land, and living creatures.

Technique & Style

Sanboku employs the traditional Kano school approach, combining delicate ink line work with subtle color washes and gilded accents. The gold leaf highlights the tree’s blossoms and the birds, creating a luminous contrast against the muted background. The brushwork balances precise detailing with broader, atmospheric strokes typical of late‑17th‑century Japanese screen painting.

History & Provenance

The screens entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they are displayed as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings. Their provenance traces back to the Edo period, reflecting the continued patronage of Kano school artists by the Japanese elite during that era.