Who painted Screens within Screens?

Screens within Screens was painted by Unknown in 1700.

Where can I see Screens within Screens?

Screens within Screens is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Artwork

Screens within Screens

Screens within Screens is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work consists of a six‑panel folding screen set against a gold ground.

About this work

Overview

The work consists of a six‑panel folding screen set against a gold ground. Each panel presents a distinct vignette: a mountainous landscape with trees, a group navigating a boat, and an architectural scene featuring a building and garden. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted tones, while selective accents of green and red draw attention to particular details.

Subject & Meaning

Together, the images may reflect a harmonious balance between the transient and the permanent, a theme common in decorative screen compositions.

The panels juxtapose natural and built environments, suggesting a contemplation of humanity’s relationship to both scenery and architecture. The boat scene evokes travel or communal activity, whereas the garden and structure imply domestic or ceremonial space. Together, the images may reflect a harmonious balance between the transient and the permanent, a theme common in decorative screen compositions.

Technique & Style

Depth is achieved through layered composition, with figures and elements overlapping across panels and varying in scale to suggest distance. The artist employs delicate brushwork to render foliage and architectural details, while the gold background provides a luminous base that unifies the separate scenes. Subtle color highlights in green and red punctuate the otherwise subdued scheme, enhancing focal points.

Context

Folding screens of this type were popular in Japanese interior decoration during the Edo period, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. The use of gold leaf and muted pigments aligns with the period’s taste for refined elegance in aristocratic settings. Such screens often displayed a series of related motifs, allowing viewers to experience a narrative progression as the screen is unfolded.