Cherry [right of a pair of Cherry and Willow] c. 17th century

Curator: This screen, "Cherry," likely from the 17th century and attributed to the Hasegawa School, immediately evokes springtime. Editor: It’s almost overwhelmingly golden. The texture alone, the subtle shimmering variations against the restrained blossoms, feels intensely rich. Curator: This work would originally have been one half of a pair with the title "Cherry and Willow.” Such folding screens were frequently commissioned, integrating elements of nature, particularly plants, into everyday domestic spaces and ceremonial settings. Consider the complex tempera preparation— pigments, binders, supports. The labour itself signifies value. Editor: Value, absolutely, is palpable. Note how the painterly gesture maintains exquisite clarity despite the density of the composition, from the angular branches to the delicate stamens. Look closely, it verges on abstraction! Curator: It is also significant to recognize this imagery within a broader economic landscape. These screens would function as commodities representing wealth and status within the structures of society at the time. Also, this suggests the important role the Hasegawa school played for many decades in satisfying elite customers' needs. Editor: I understand. Yet I am drawn back to its visual equilibrium: that single cascade of smaller foliage on the right anchors the whole composition perfectly. Without that, the weight of the upper branches would overwhelm the work. It reveals, essentially, how carefully and cleverly the structure supports meaning. Curator: So, viewing this not just for beauty, but considering who made it, for whom, and from what materials offers essential insights. Editor: Yes, I’m happy to admit that recognizing that deeper system only intensifies the pleasure that is to be had by looking. The simple balance within this dazzling screen continues to unfold for us today.