Plum Screen c. late 18th century

"Plum Screen" is a six-panel screen created by Japanese artist Ki Baitei during the late 18th century. The screen depicts a plum tree in a minimalist style, using a limited color palette of black ink on a pale beige ground. The artist's bold brushstrokes and evocative imagery evoke the delicate beauty and ephemeral nature of the plum blossom, a popular symbol of spring in Japanese art. This screen is a powerful example of the artist's masterful command of ink painting and the enduring power of Japanese nature imagery.