Plantain and Bird in Snow 1567 - 1599

Kano Sōshū painted this image of a plantain and bird in snow in ink, color, gold, and silver on paper. We know that Sōshū belonged to the Kano school, which served as the official painters to the Tokugawa shogunate. This fan painting dates to the late 16th century, a period of significant social and political upheaval in Japan. The ruling Ashikaga shogunate had collapsed, and powerful feudal lords were vying for control. The Kano school’s success lay in providing the imagery of legitimacy to whoever managed to seize power. It’s no accident that the ground is gold leaf, which conveyed wealth and status. While this painting does not explicitly reference those political struggles, the imagery of nature may have been seen as an implicit commentary on the natural order, as well as a reminder of the transience of power. By studying historical texts, such as biographies of the Kano family, records of commissions from the shogunate, and literature from the period, we can better understand the social and institutional context in which Sōshū created this painting.