Kakemono Set of Two Paintings – Birds and Autumn Flowers

As a harmoniously matched pair, these two hanging scrolls speak of the quiet beauty of autumn nature. One painting shows blossoming cotton or hibiscus flowers with boldly drawn leaves, above which a pair of small birds in flight face one another. The second painting captures a scene close to the ground: among swaying autumn grasses, delicate bellflowers and white flower panicles, quails hide, blending almost imperceptibly into the vegetation. Together, the two works form an evocative image of nature of great balance.

The depiction follows the tradition of Japanese bird-and-flower painting (Kachōga), which was cultivated at the highest level over centuries within the Kanō school. The fine brushwork, the restrained coloring and the balanced composition are characteristic of this school tradition.

Both paintings bear a signature and seal and were created on silk during the Meiji period. Fitted with jikusaki made of bone and a signed wooden box, these hand-painted unique works form an extraordinary ensemble for lovers of classical Japanese painting.