Maple Viewers

This painting depicts people enjoying the view of maple foliage beside the Kiyotaki river at Takao, north of the city of Kyoto, which is famous for the beauty of its maples in autumn. Beyond the thick clouds are the roofs of Jingoji temple with a red pagoda. Atago shrine covered in snow suggests the arrival of winter.On the right bank of the Kiyotaki river, beautifully dressed women with children are seated in a relaxed manner. A tea vendor is making tea, and the women, who are drinking tea and sake, seem to be enjoying this splendid autumn day. Two men are playing flutes on a bridge in the center. Meanwhile, Buddhist priests and young apprentices are about to cross the bridge. On the left bank of the river, warriors seated in a circle are singing and dancing at a sake party while white herons fly overhead.It is thought that there was another screen depicting spring and summer scenes, and the pair originally formed a meisho-e (painting of famous place) of the four seasons. Judging from the artist's seal the work is attributed to Kano Hideyori. Hideyori was active around the Eiroku era (1558-1570), when the city of Kyoto was recovering from the damage it incurred during the Onin War (1467-1477). Although rendered in the traditional style of the time, this work is most noted for its innovative characteristics, as seen in the vivid depictions of merrymaking under the autumn maples, focusing on the enjoyment of people of the Muromachi period.