Cranes and Pines [left of a pair] c. 19th century

"Cranes and Pines [left of a pair]" (c. 19th century) is a six-panel screen by Yamamoto Sodō. The screen depicts a lively scene of cranes in a Japanese landscape. The cranes are portrayed in a stylized manner with elongated necks and legs, their plumage depicted in delicate shades of gray and white. The screen's background features a winding river and a small group of pine trees. The work is characteristic of Japanese screen painting, a popular genre in the 19th century, often depicting natural scenes with delicate brushstrokes. The screen's overall composition and the artist's skillful rendering of the cranes evoke a sense of movement and grace.