DOI issue:
No. 224 (November 1911)
DOI article:Harada, Jirō: Old Japanese folding screens
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21155#0139
Old Japanese Folding Screens
SIX-PANEL SCREEN: "RECREATION UNDER CHERRY-TREES " PAINTED BY KANO KYUHAKU ( '577—1654)
( Owned by Hara Kokuro, Esq.)
that while each screen could stand by itself as a mastery of the science of composition possessed
complete decoration, a pleasing balance was ob- by the old Japanese masters is testified by their
tained when the pair were placed side by side, unfailing success in this difficult problem."
Sometimes a design was made to run through both In choice of subject and mode of treatment, the
members of the pair. As Mr. Morrison, an pictures on the byobu bear a striking resemblance
eminent authority on Japanese painting, has well to those on the fusuma, the screens or doors that
remarked, " it was the ever-present problem of the slide in grooves to partition one room from
painter to make each screen a complete design in another in the Japanese house; byobu and fusuma
itself, so that it might be used alone, and, more fulfil somewhat similiar functions, and offer some of
than that, a screen was not regarded as well the largest surfaces for decorative painting. But it is
decorated unless any adjoining two or more leaves only natural that the various influences that made
by themselves made a full and pleasing composi- themselves felt in the painting of screens should
tion, since it was often required to use a screen be the same as those manifested in the technique
partly closed and partly open. The almost magical and execution of the paintings that are admired in
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SIX-PANEL SCREEN: "RECREATION UNDER CHERRY-TREES " PAINTED BY KANO KYUHAKU ( '577—1654)
( Owned by Hara Kokuro, Esq.)
that while each screen could stand by itself as a mastery of the science of composition possessed
complete decoration, a pleasing balance was ob- by the old Japanese masters is testified by their
tained when the pair were placed side by side, unfailing success in this difficult problem."
Sometimes a design was made to run through both In choice of subject and mode of treatment, the
members of the pair. As Mr. Morrison, an pictures on the byobu bear a striking resemblance
eminent authority on Japanese painting, has well to those on the fusuma, the screens or doors that
remarked, " it was the ever-present problem of the slide in grooves to partition one room from
painter to make each screen a complete design in another in the Japanese house; byobu and fusuma
itself, so that it might be used alone, and, more fulfil somewhat similiar functions, and offer some of
than that, a screen was not regarded as well the largest surfaces for decorative painting. But it is
decorated unless any adjoining two or more leaves only natural that the various influences that made
by themselves made a full and pleasing composi- themselves felt in the painting of screens should
tion, since it was often required to use a screen be the same as those manifested in the technique
partly closed and partly open. The almost magical and execution of the paintings that are admired in
117