Rural Cottage in Early Spring, by Tawaraya Sōtatsu
A work depicting spring in a rural mountain village. At the art studio called “Tawara-ya” which is said to have been led by Tawaraya Sōtatsu (1570-1643) , the feature products were fans, which were popular among the stylish people living in Edo. “Rural Cottage in Spring” is one of the 11 fans of “Folding Screen with Fan” owned by Daigo-ji Temple.
Are the flowers on the screen plum or cherry blossoms? In any case, they are flowers that symbolize spring in Japan. It is said that the shape of the straw‐thatched roof cottage was borrowed from the pictures of his predecessors, but it has a relaxing atmosphere characteristic of Sōtatsu. The softness of the flowing river is a sign of joy at the coming of spring.