Birds and flowers
18th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1907.136
Tags
About this artwork
The unidentified painter of this six-panel screen (paired with F1907.137) has created meticulously detailed images of a variety of birds, ranging from the commonplace pheasant and duck to the more exotic parrot, peacock, and supernatural phoenix. The colorful images of flowers and birds stand out against the soft, monochromatic ink that depicts landscape elements.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...