Pair of Screens: Sparrows on a Blossoming Cherry Tree late 18th-first half 19th century

Curator: These delightful folding screens, whose creator remains unknown, are titled “Pair of Screens: Sparrows on a Blossoming Cherry Tree.” Editor: Oh, how elegant and fleeting! The sparrows and blossoms create such a lighthearted, ephemeral feeling, like a perfect spring day caught in a breeze. Curator: The anonymous artist used ink, color, and gold leaf on paper to create these intimate panels. Sparrows, often seen as symbols of simplicity and community in East Asian art, flit amidst the cherry blossoms, which represent beauty and transience. Editor: The juxtaposition of gold and the delicate blossoms really emphasizes the fleeting nature of beauty. It's the kind of piece that invites quiet contemplation, doesn't it? The gold makes me feel like I am catching the sunlight. Curator: Precisely. These screens likely served not just a functional purpose, but were also intended to evoke a sense of harmony and appreciation for the natural world, aligning with philosophical ideals of the time. The screens are quite small; each around 13 by 48 inches, which adds to the intimacy. Editor: It's amazing how such small panels can contain so much symbolic weight and emotional depth. Like a haiku in visual form! Curator: Indeed, a small window onto a larger world of meaning. Editor: Makes me want to chase the spring, follow the sparrows…