Blossoming Cherry Trees 1795 - 1815

"Blossoming Cherry Trees," a six-panel screen by Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1828), is a masterful example of Rinpa style painting, a Japanese art movement characterized by its bold decorative motifs and luminous colors. The screen showcases a delicate branch of cherry blossoms, painted in shades of white, pink, and green, against a background of shimmering gold leaf. The artist’s skillful use of ink and color, as well as the dynamic composition, evoke a sense of tranquility and beauty, inviting the viewer to contemplate the ephemeral nature of nature's bounty. The screen is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.