Artist

Attributed to Kanō Motonobu( 1477? - 1559 )

Number of components

Six-panel folding screen

Format and materials

Ink on paper

Dimensions (in cm)

L. 154.1, W. 357.2

Date of production

Muromachi period   16th century

Geese gathering amidst rusting marsh reeds and swallows flying overhead have been placed to from the composition of this work. It was originally the right-hand screen of a six-fold pair of screens; the left-hand screen, now lost, is known to have depicted a flock of geese beneath a willow tree. On the lower right has been pressed a tripod-shaped seal reading "Motonobu". It is not immediately clear from the style of the painting, however, that the work is by the master himself, and probably it is one of many paintings that came from Motonobu's workshop. Another possibility that has been suggested is that the artist was Kano Shoei (1519-92), the son of Motonobu (1476-1559) and the father of Eitoku (1543-90). Shoei has generally been overshadowed by these two great names, but the rich lyricism of his style has begun to be better appreciated and in recent years, his reputation as an artist has grown. He is believed to have used his father's seal when he was young, and thus the possibility that he indeed is the painter of this screen should be carefully considered.