Description

Two long-tailed birds with blue plumage and long, drooping white tail feathers have settled on a gnarled, moss-covered pine branch. Their blue-rimmed eyes and the fine rendering of the plumage are worked out with great care, while the dark, star-shaped fanned pine needles form a strong counterpoint to this.

At the lower edge of the image, a pale pink peony opens in full bloom. The pairing of pine and peony is anything but coincidental: the pine stands for constancy and a long life, while the peony is regarded as the flower of wealth and dignity. Together they form a distinctly auspicious pictorial idea, one frequently sought after in Japanese bird-and-flower painting. The long, drooping tail feathers of the birds trace a bright line across the dark mass of the pine.

The warm gold tone of the background makes the cool blue tones of the birds stand out with particular clarity. The motif is executed as a silkscreen print on silk, with signature and red seal placed at the right edge. A colorful, festive hanging scroll for all who appreciate expressive bird depictions.