17th Century Japanese Screen. View of West Lake by Unkoku Toyo.

Anonymous Late 17th Century Battle of Ichi-no-tani & Yashima Dimensions: Each Screen: H. 175 cm x W. 385 cm (69” x 151.5”) This pair of Japanese screens depict two significant battles from the Genpei War (1180–85), as recounted in the Tale of the Heike, a semi-historical epic chronicling the conflict between rival clans for control of Japan, written in the early 1200s. Each screen portrays a single battle through a series of small episodes, framed by gold clouds, landscape elements, and architectural features. True to the style of many screens inspired by The Tale of the Heike, the scenes are rendered in lavish colors and gold, downplaying the brutality of the warfare. Although based on real events, these narratives often glorified and romanticized the heroic feats of the warriors. Viewers at the time would have been familiar with the story’s details, leading to a proliferation of paintings on folding screens inspired by this theme from the late Muromachi to the early Edo periods. On the right screen, we see the Minamoto’s attack on the Taira, who have retreated from the capital, Kyoto, toward the sea. The central building represents the temporary Taira headquarters, where Taira soldiers are holding the young Emperor Antoku. The Minamoto plan to launch a surprise attack from the rear after descending the steep cliff known as Ichi-no-tani, depicted at the top center. This scene highlights the tactical brilliance of Minamoto commander Yoshitsune and the courage of his men. The left screen captures moments from the Battle of Yashima...

Flowers & Birds of the Four Seasons Pair of six-fold Japanese Screens. Ink, color, gofun and gold on paper. Second half of the 19th Centur...

Omori Soun (b. 1704) Chrysanthemums - One Hundred Flowers A Pair of Six-fold Japanese Screens. Ink, color, gofun and gold leaf on paper. Dating ...

Dimensions (Each screen): H. 176 cm x W. 378 cm (69’’ x 149’’) This pair of Japanese folding screens depict blossoming plum trees amongst young pines. They are designed to capture t...

Suiboku is a style of ink painting that is reminicent of the way calligraphers paint. Masterfully painted Muromachi Period (1336-1573) painting, unique in style and strength for the period with very bold lines. Sesshu Toyo...

Monumental pair of late 18th century Japanese Edo/Tokugawa period byobu screens depicting the battles between Taira and Minamoto. The screens have six panels each with individual sce...

Late 19th / early 20th century Japanese Meiji period two-panel folding byobu screen featuring a winter landscape with a Chinese country villa and distant village. Kano School screen ...

Mesmerizing pair of late 18th/early 19th century Japanese Edo period byobu screens by Shibata Gito (Japanese 1780-1819). The paintings depict Chinese immortals in a dreamy landscape....