Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons: Spring and Summer

Object Details

• Artist

  Sesshu Toyo (1420-1506)

• Label

  After a period of travel and study in China in from 1467 to 1469, the Zen Buddhist monk and painter Sesshu returned to Japan. Recognized during his stay in China as a gifted artist, Sesshu directed his experience and skills toward creating a distinctive new Japanese interpretation of Chinese artistic traditions. In the pair of screens F1953.94-95, he follows the Japanese convention of creating a landscape with a seasonal progression from spring at the far right to winter at the far left. The focus on birds and flowers, however, derives from a traditional subject of Chinese painting.

  Sesshu's painting style also reflects Chinese sources in its emphasis on three-dimensional form and observation of the natural world. His interest in dramatic compositions emphasizing spatial depth can be seen in the large, gnarled branch in the foreground of the screen at left, which disappears into water and reemerges to frame a view of the distant, snow-covered mountains. Precise control of ink tones and brush technique, which Sesshu learned from his study of Chinese painting, enhance the expressive quality of this image.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Feathered Ink (August 27, 2022 to February 20, 2023)

  Seasons: Japanese Screens (July 9, 2011 to January 22, 2012)

  Japanese Screens (March 2007 to January 3, 2016)

  The Idea of China in Japan: The Tea Ceremony in Japan (December 19, 1999 to June 11, 2000)

  Japanese Screens (May 9, 1993 to November 13, 1995)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

  Japanese Art—Painted Screens (August 18, 1967 to May 2, 1973)

  Japanese Art, Galleries 3, 4, and 5 (January 1, 1963 to September 16, 1970)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Screens, 1957 (March 20, 1957 to March 30, 1960)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 5 (February 25, 1956 to March 15, 1957)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Screens (October 3, 1947 to November 10, 1955)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1400s

• Name

  Sesshu, Toyo

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Birds, Summer, Flowers, Spring

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings