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Birds and Flowers, May Irises

	Object Type	19th Century Japanese Scroll
	Artist	Hoitsu
	Period	Edo (18th and 19th century)
	Materials	Color on Silk Scroll
	Creation Date	ca. 1810
	Dimensions	140 cm. x 50 cm. (55 1/8 in. x 19 5/8 in.)
	Commentary	From a set of 12 months

Commentary

This set of twelve paintings of birds and flowers by Hoitsu is similar to another set owned by the Imperial Household Agency. Though the subject matter is the same as "Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons," they are quite different in concept. In this set, the emphasis is on the birds and insects, whereas the set owned by the Imperial family emphasizes the flowers. In this set the birds all seem to have personality and life and are never stiff or static. These paintings are masterpieces in their simplicity and brush strokes - everything unnecessary has been eliminated, and the necessities emphasized. It is Japanese art of the Edo period at its highest level of accomplishment. Hoitsu has taken nature and has improved upon it to a point beyond what can be found in raw nature herself. - JDP Hoitsu, who was a son of Daimyo, enjoyed Noh drama, tea, art of incense and was an accomplished poet, and painter of "flowers and grasses", and "birds and flowers." Among his works, Birds and Flowers of the Twelve Months was his favorite theme and he produced many sets. The extant complete sets include the Imperial Household, the Mizuno family, and this Price Collection (this work was introduced in Sakai Hoitsu gashu in 1976 for the first time). Teikaei junikagetsu kacho uta-e, which is painted by Kano Tanyu as a part of the Neoclassicism movement during the early part of the Edo period, is well known as a set of twelve. The theme of Junikagetsu kacho waka based on Teika's waka has two forms: one is a hanging scroll format, placing Teika's waka of every month above the painting; the other is of an album, placing waka on the left. The Kano school kept the same motifs and compositions for generations. However, innovative Hoitsu got an idea from Teikaei junikagetsu kacho uta-e, and created a new form of Birds and Flowers of the Twelve Months by selecting his own flowers and birds for each month, unrelated to Teika's waka, . Birds and Flowers of the Twelve Months, owned by the Imperial Household is the only one dated. It was painted in Bunsei 6, (1823) when he was 62. Let's compare this work with Mizuno and Price's hanging scrolls, which do not have a date. The common theme used among the three is Irises and a water-rail for May. Each, however, has a different organization. The Price's is organized with less restrictions to details. In view of Hoitsu's artistic development, I place it to be before the Imperial Household, 1823 (within ten years. Some might say after 1823). (Yamane)