Flower and Bird Illustrations (Kachō emakimono) c. 18th century

Editor: This is Flower and Bird Illustrations by Kano Tsunenobu, made around the 17th or 18th century. The ink on silk gives it a serene, almost ethereal quality. What do you notice about the cultural context of this piece? Curator: Considering Tsunenobu's position within the Kano school, we see the formal conventions of bird-and-flower painting being used to express cultural values. Does the imagery of specific flowers or birds suggest anything about the patronage or intended audience for this scroll? Editor: I hadn’t considered that! Perhaps the elegant cherry blossoms were appealing to the court. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. The placement of the natural imagery of the tree and birds also subtly convey an artistic statement of the cultural norms around the era.