Description
A beautifully understated Japanese two-panel folding screen (byōbu) depicting a serene seasonal composition of autumn grasses and flowering plants set against an expansive gold leaf ground. At the lower portion, delicate blooms—likely chrysanthemums and seasonal wildflowers—emerge from a rocky outcrop, rendered with refined detail and naturalistic color. Above, two small birds in flight animate the open space, adding movement and balance to the otherwise tranquil scene.
Executed in ink and mineral pigments on paper, the composition is enhanced by a luminous gold leaf background that creates a warm, atmospheric field. The restrained use of space, with large open areas of gold, reflects the Japanese aesthetic of ma (negative space), allowing the viewer to appreciate both the subject and the quiet emptiness surrounding it. Subtle cloud-like gold forms drift across the upper register, reinforcing a sense of depth and poetic stillness.
The screen is mounted within a silk brocade border and housed in a black lacquered wood frame, retaining its original hand-forged hardware. The brocade’s soft pattern complements the composition without overpowering it, while the lacquer frame provides a clean and elegant finish suitable for a range of interiors.
Rich in seasonal symbolism, autumn grasses and flowers represent the fleeting beauty of nature and the passage of time, while birds in flight often suggest freedom and transition.
Age: Meiji period 1868 – 1912
Dimensions: 42″ wide x 50″ high