Artwork

花鳥図風炉先屏風|Folding Screen for Tea Ceremony with Six Bird-and-Flower Paintings

花鳥図風炉先屏風|Folding Screen for Tea Ceremony with Six Bird-and-Flower Paintings is a silver painting by the Impressionist artist Shibata Zeshin. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 54.56
Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan V. Hammer, 1954

About this work

Overview

This two-panel folding screen, created by Shibata Zeshin in 1883, is a still life composition featuring six small bird-and-flower paintings. It is housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The screen comprises six light paper squares, each depicting flowers and birds, set against a muted gray background with a dark border. The scenes vary in color intensity, ranging from vibrant reds and greens to softer, more subdued tones.

Technique & Style

The artist employed meticulous brushwork to render delicate flowers and birds, making the colors stand out against the simple gray background. The contrast between the intricate foreground elements and the understated background creates a sense of visual balance.