Ten-Panel Folding Screen of Flowering Plants and Birds, Eight-Panel Folding Screen of Peonies

This is a double sided folding screen with eight panels of peonies on one side and ten panels of birds and flowers on the other. When looked at from a distance, the side with peonies looks as if they are blank sheets of paper. When looked at closely, however, large peonies painted in whitewash are visible. Folding screens with no pictures or writings were used in funerals to cover up the coffin. But those painted so faintly with whitewash such as this is very rare indeed. The opposite side is full of various birds and flowers. Feathers of the birds, colors used for the flowers and the rocks painted blue, all give a colorful and decorative aspect to the painting.