Blossoming Cherry Tree
Unknown Artist
Japanese
This is the left, two-panel screen from a pair intended to be viewed together as a single composition. Its imagery continues the arc of a branch depicted on the other (right) screen and culminates in a scene of two sparrows perched on branches with clusters of cherry blossoms and leaves. The imagery is painted in ink, color, and white pigments over a gold paper ground. It lacks an artist's signature and seal. The pair of screens originated as a set of sliding cabinet doors, as indicated by traces of circular damage at the midpoints of the left and right edges of each screen panel, where the handling implement to slide each door once existed.
Right screen from a pair of two-panel folding screens; ink and color on gold paper
Edo period, 1615-1868