One of a pair of six-fold paper screens
Japan
Edo period 18th century
Dimensions: H. 69¼” x W.150” (176cm x 381cm)

Painted in ink and colour on a gold ground with numerous matsu (pine trees) and rocks. The lower half of the screen is in moriage (raised design) to give the appearance of sand or gravel.

The subject matter depicted here was very popular during the 16th and 17th century and became known as Shorin-zu byobu (pine forest screens). Whilst there is no particular literary connotation these Keibutsu ga (landscape of seasonal subject) with the evergreen pine are intended to remind the viewer of the Emperor and his immortality.

For a similar Yamato-e screen in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum dating from the Muromachi period and attributed to Tosa Mitsunobu (died 1522) see Japanese Design in Art #7 pl. 37.