Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615) / late 1500s
Birds and Flowers
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Birds and Flowers as painting (Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615) · late 1500s).
Military class patrons frequently requested scenes depicting predation, such as hunting scenes that were inserted as additional subject matter in otherwise tranquil vistas celebrating flora and fauna.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as One of a pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper and credits Kano Shōei (Japanese, 1519–1592).
The museum's collection notes: The landscape depicted in this pair of screens follows a seasonal progression from right to left, starting with the blossoming plum of early spring and ending with late autumn peonies. A variety of smaller birds are positioned throughout the scene, and a trio of swimming ducks is bracketed by early summer irises and early autumn bellflowers at the center. While some raptors (birds of prey) terrorize a pheasant and an egret (a waterfowl) to the right, a peacock and peahen converse to the left. Hawks are associated with military prowess, while the peafowl suggest cultural prestige.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtBirds and FlowersOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.