Cat Tails and Moon 1807 - 1868

"Cat Tails and Moon" is a small, intimate work by the renowned Japanese lacquer artist Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891). Executed in the *maki-e* (sprinkled picture) technique, the piece depicts a cluster of cattails silhouetted against a moonlit sky. Zeshin, known for his masterful use of gold and silver, achieved a subtle yet striking effect by using a combination of gold and silver leaf, as well as various pigments. The piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into Zeshin's refined aesthetic sensibilities, characteristic of the late Edo period.