Plum, Narcissus, and Bamboo with Magpie

Object Details

• Artist

  Yamamoto Baiitsu 山本梅逸 (1783-1856)

• Label

  This painting employs traditional symbolic elements-prunus, bamboo, magpie, and narcissus. In combination they form a rebus-a visual pun-that indicates felicitous beginnings. This elegant and lyrical painting, full of realistic detail, achieves its effect through the heavily sized and closely woven silk that holds the ink like a shimmering film on the surface. Baiitsu's composition contrasts dense vegetation with open space that is penetrated by the magpie weighing heavily on a bamboo branch.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License (February 2 to August 4, 2013)

  Birds and Beasts in Japanese Art (January 31 to July 18, 2004)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Klaus F. Naumann, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1850s, 1680s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Yamamoto, Baiitsu

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Magpie, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Narcissus, Bamboo, Kakemono, Plum blossom

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings