Birds, flowers, and trees: on the back, bamboo trees
1568-1615
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1906.263
Tags
About this artwork
To 1906
Art Historical Context
This enchanting Japanese painting, titled *Birds, Flowers, Trees: On the Back, Bamboo Trees*, to the late 16th to early 17th century (1568–1615), aligning with the vibrant Momoyama period (15731615). Created by unknown artist, it likely graces a traditional format such as a screen or scroll, with one side depicting lively birds amid blooming flowers and lush trees, while the reverse features resilient bamboo groves. These natural motifs are hallmarks of Japanese art, symbolizing harmony, impermanence, and endurance—bamboo for flexibility in adversity, flowers for fleeting beauty. The Momoyama...
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...