Artwork
Puppies, Sparrows, and Chrysanthemums
Puppies, Sparrows, and Chrysanthemums is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Nagasawa Rosetsu. It dates from 1793 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a flock of sparrows perched on a bamboo trellis covered in chrysanthemums, with a litter of puppies playing and napping below.
You see a flock of sparrows perched on a bamboo trellis covered in chrysanthemums, with a litter of puppies playing and napping below.
This painting was once part of sliding doors in a Japanese home. The small circles on the paper are marks from the door handles—details that remind you it was made to be used, not just looked at. The leftmost puppy tilts its head up, as if listening to the birds.
To see more work like this, look up japan, edo period (1615–1868).
Overview
Puppies, Sparrows, and Chrysanthemums is a painting that was originally part of a set of sliding doors used in a traditional Japanese building.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a lively litter of puppies playing and resting beneath a bamboo trellis adorned with chrysanthemums, where a flock of sparrows has gathered. The interaction between the animals is thought to illustrate the human condition, a common theme in the artist's work.
Technique & Style
The painting features circular marks on its surface, remnants of the door handles that once adorned the sliding doors. This detail highlights the artwork's original functional purpose.
History & Provenance
The painting dates to the Edo period, a time of significant cultural development in Japan.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nagasawa Rosetsu (長沢芦雪; 1754–1799) was a Japanese painter during the Edo period. A disciple of the Maruyama School, he was known for his versatile artistic style. He was born to the family of a low-ranking samurai. He…
