Bush Clover 1615 - 1868

This painting, "Bush Clover," was created by Suzuki Kiitsu, a prominent Japanese artist, sometime between 1615 and 1868. The artwork is a *Uchiwa* (circular fan) painting, depicting delicate branches of the Lespedeza bush clover, with small white flowers and fine, light green leaves, painted in a *sukiyō-e* style. The fan's surface is *washi* (Japanese paper) and it is currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City. The painting exemplifies the beauty and tranquility of the natural world, a common theme in traditional Japanese art.