6-leaf Screen, Kano School, Japan, Edo Period.

Six-panel folding screen, Kano school, Japan, Edo period. This six-panel Japanese folding screen, from the Kano school, illustrates a fluid and refined landscape, typical of the late 18th to early 19th century. The scene, executed in ink and enhanced with gold leaf, shows a boat gliding on a river, framed by a gnarled pine and steep rocks. It leads a scholar accompanied by his students. The composition reflects an atmosphere of meditative calm, accentuated by the scintillating light of the golden backgrounds that symbolize eternity and spirituality in Japanese art. The Kano school, founded in the 15th century, dominated official painting in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). This folding screen testifies to the elegance of this school, marked by the balance between Chinese tradition and Japanese aesthetics. These works adorned the homes of the elite and samurai, conveying prestige and refinement. This screen is a rare piece, preserved in very good condition, which illustrates the apogee of the Kano style, combining technical mastery and poetic symbolism. Ink and gold on paper on wooden frame, silk borders and black lacquer rods. Signature on the right panel unidentified.