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Two White Herons in Snow-Covered Willow

Two White Herons in Snow-Covered Willow

Unknown Artist

Japanese

In this two-panel folding screen a pair of white herons stands huddled together atop the thick trunk of a snow-laden willow tree. Executed in ink and white pigments on an otherwise unembellished gold ground, one heron bends its neck downward, while the other gazes far into the distance. The painted imagery is concentrated on the screen’s left panel, with only a few willow branches stretching into the visual field of the right panel. The work is unsigned.

Two-panel folding screen: ink and colors on gold paper

Edo period, 1615-1868

Paintings