Kano Naganobu
flowers and birds

Hanging scroll
Color on silk
114,7cm×53,4cm

Condition

This work is a beautiful painting featuring large, vividly colored peonies in full bloom. When one first stands before it, the viewer is immediately struck by its overwhelming presence. The brilliant yet refined colors rival the elegant tones and patterns of the mounting, while the magnificent peonies seem to fill the entire surface of the painting. The flowers appear to compete with one another in their splendor, creating the pleasant sensation of standing in a beautiful garden where birds come to rest among the blossoms.

Upon closer inspection, one notices that the rocks and the branches of the peonies are rendered with surprisingly bold brushstrokes. Yet this somewhat rough handling of the brush creates a remarkable effect: when viewed from a distance, the outlines of the rocks and branches emerge clearly, producing a vivid sense of spatial depth. The charm of this painting lies in the exquisite balance between the powerful immediacy experienced at close range and the refined presence perceived from afar. The absence of any background behind the peonies also seems to unify the peony garden within the painting with the surrounding space of the tokonoma when the work is viewed from a distance.

Not only the mounting but also the silk and pigments of the painting are of exceptional beauty. Looking closely, one is captivated by the harmony between the fine texture of the silk—subtly shimmering with an elegant luster—and the refined yet vivid colors of the pigments. The small birds are not rendered with the highly intricate and technically elaborate style that was fashionable at the time. Instead, they are painted with a simpler brushwork that retains a sense of naturalness. Their brightly colored feathers and softly silver-tinged plumage nevertheless allow them to maintain a strong presence that does not yield to the peonies when the painting is viewed from a distance.

The artist who created this wonderful work—one that, when hung in a tokonoma, creates an inviting space where conversation with cherished guests naturally flourishes—is Kano Eisen, a painter of the Edo Kano school who was active from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century and who played a key role in transforming the Kano tradition. This painting encapsulates the appeal of his work: a superbly balanced composition that can be appreciated both near and far, vivid yet refined coloration, and the finest silk and pigments whose qualities are fully brought to life by his hand.

At the time, Eisen’s peony paintings were extremely popular and appear to have been highly admired among daimyo. This particular work is one of the finest examples and is based on the composition of the Peonies attributed to Wang Yuan (now in the Tokugawa Art Museum). By omitting several of the flowers from the original composition and adjusting certain colors, Eisen preserved its brilliance and dynamism while adding a lightness that allows the work to harmonize gracefully within the space of a tokonoma without becoming overly assertive. One might compare it to a unique, cutting-edge piece from a leading domestic brand—something akin to the way an haute couture creation from a top international fashion house might be adapted to suit Japanese taste and physique.

The former owner of this painting was the Marquis Ikeda family. It was most likely treasured by the Ikeda clan, the lords of the Tottori domain. The dignified elegance and refined beauty that once enriched the moments of conversation between a daimyo and his honored guests remain undiminished today. Displayed in a tokonoma, the painting will continue to shine ever more brightly as time passes.

Artist

1775～1828
He was a Kano school painter. He studied painting under his father. Eishin participated in the creation of the screen painting of Edo castle. He was conferred Hogen (法眼: the rank among the Buddhist monks) in 1802. He succeeded the head of family in 1806. He specialized in ectype and studied ancient Chinese and Japanese painting.