Artwork
西園方済筆 梅に叭叭鳥図|Mynah Bird on Plum Branch
西園方済筆 梅に叭叭鳥図|Mynah Bird on Plum Branch is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Saien Hōsai. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is classified within the landscape tradition, reflecting the Japanese practice of treating bird-and-flower subjects within that broader category.
The hanging scroll depicts a mynah bird perched on a plum branch, a pairing with long-standing symbolic weight in East Asian visual tradition. The plum blossom is associated with resilience and renewal because it blooms at the end of winter, while birds among flowering branches commonly signal the arrival of spring and the harmony between living creatures and nature. The ink-on-paper treatment isolates the bird and branch against an unpainted ground, focusing attention on the gesture of the plum and the alert posture of the mynah.
The work is classified within the landscape tradition, reflecting the Japanese practice of treating bird-and-flower subjects within that broader category.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in ink on paper, mounted as a hanging scroll. The artist employs fine, controlled brushwork to delineate the plum branch and the mynah bird, using differentiated ink tones to suggest volume and texture. The plum's blossoms are rendered with delicate, abbreviated strokes, while the bird's plumage is described through varied ink washes and confident contour lines.
The composition's restraint and the calligraphic clarity of line align with the literati taste cultivated during the mid-Edo period.
History & Provenance
The hanging scroll Mynah Bird on Plum Branch by Saien Hosai (Xiyua Fangqi) is dated 1765. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where its dimensions are recorded as 91.9 cm in height and 26.7 cm in width, consistent with the format of an East Asian hanging scroll. The provided sources confirm its location within the museum but do not supply a specific accession or inventory number, nor do they record any exhibition history for the piece.
Legacy
The work is recognized as an early example of Japanese bird‑and‑flower painting that helped shape the genre's development in the Edo period. Its depiction of a mynah perched on a plum branch exemplifies the naturalistic detail valued by contemporary artists, and the composition has been referenced in later studies of avian motifs in Japanese art. The painting's inclusion in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art underscores its scholarly and curatorial significance, positioning it as a representative piece for understanding 18th‑century Japanese landscape and avian subjects.
Overview
Saien Hōsai's 'Mynah Bird on Plum Branch' (西園方済筆 梅に叭叭鳥図), created in 1765, is an ink-on-paper hanging scroll. This painting captures a solitary mynah bird perched on a gnarled plum branch, rendered with a minimalist aesthetic typical of East Asian ink painting. The work exemplifies the artist's skill in conveying both detail and atmosphere through a restricted palette, inviting contemplation of nature's simple elegance.
Context
As a hanging scroll, this painting was designed for temporary display, intended to be appreciated for a period before being rolled and stored. This format allowed for seasonal rotation or presentation on specific occasions, making the viewing experience intimate and transient. Such works were integral to the domestic and scholarly environments of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Saien Hosai, known by the Chinese name Xiyua Fangqi, was a Chinese painter of the Qing dynasty who became known in Japan during the Edo period.
