“The folding screen painting of Cypress“

Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) was active painter in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the end of the Japanese Age of the Civil War. As his artworks, “The folding screen painting of Cypress” is famous as well as “The folding screen painting of Chinese lions “

“The folding screen painting of Chinese lions “ by Kano Eitoku

However, he originally drew this picture on a sliding door instead of a screen. The sliding door was used for an aristocratic residence that was established in December 1590. As he died three month ago, Kano Eitoku may have not seen the completed work with his own eyes.

Japanese people have used a cypress as a high class lumber. The Japanese cypress pillars of the temples, which has been over 1000 years old, such as Horyuji and Yakushiji, still supporting the building solidly.

The World Heritage temples in Nara

He painted cypress trees with overwhelming force, with the gorgeous golden background. He emphasized the overall contrast by limiting the number of colorsand expressed strength by drawing the tree with rough lines.

It is a picture characterizing the paintings of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and showing his intense temperament.