Feathers, Fur and Flowers: the Natural World in Edo-Period Painting May 12, 2010

Inhabited by a profusion of flowers, geese, birds, and squirrels, the nineteenth century work Birds and Flowers by artists Sessai Bunshu and Shosensai Horyu is an extraordinary example of Edo-period (1615-1868) painting. The minutely detailed and realistic renderings of various flowers, flowering trees, and animals are placed in a fantastic botanical context: the heavy laden grape vines of autumn hang over the blooming plum tree that flowers at the New Year. Birds and Flowers served as the inspiration for a new installation on view in the Japanese Galleries. 'Feathers, Fur and Flowers: The Natural World in Edo-period Painting' includes hanging scrolls, handscrolls, screens, ceramics, lacquer-wares, and other decorative arts from NOMA's permanent collection. These works, taken together, reflect the pervasive presence of nature in all aspects of Edo-period Japanese art. Examined singly, they provide the opportunity to consider an individual artist's vision through the lens of a single subject.