Kakemono Autumn Maple with Blue Birds

Two small blue-feathered birds have settled in this kakemono on a gnarled, autumn-colored maple branch whose leaves glow in vivid red and orange. While one bird sits on a protruding branch, the second turns toward it from a lower branch - a small, lively scene that lends the otherwise tranquil autumn motif a narrative touch.

The dense, sweeping composition of branches and the high-contrast interplay of cool blue and warm red are characteristic of kachô-ga painting, which frequently depicts birds as a symbol of companionship and connection amid the transient beauty of autumn.

The painting bears the signature and seal of Jun Zako. Painted on silk and mounted on a roller made of bone, this hanging scroll dates from the Shôwa period. A vividly colored collector's piece for enthusiasts of classic Japanese autumn motifs.