Cypress Trees
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Cypress Trees (detail), By Kanō Eitoku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 1590 (National Treasure)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
September 10, 2024 (Tue) - October 14, 2024 (Mon)Massive cypress trees with powerful, twisting branches seem to burst beyond the edges of the composition. The artist, Kanō Eitoku (1543–90), lived during a period marked by ruthless civil war and unprecedented artistic innovation. He enjoyed the patronage of powerful samurai warlords, noblemen, and Buddhist monks, creating countless large-scale paintings for castles, palaces, and temples.
Scholars believe the paintings here were originally mounted on sliding doors inside the mansion of the Hachijō no Miya, an important branch of the imperial family. Eitoku amplified the painting’s visual impact by limiting the number of motifs and employing vibrant, contrasting colors. This masterpiece, created in the final year of his life, embodies the unbridled energy of his time.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Cypress Trees | By Kanō Eitoku (1543-90) | Azuchi-Momoyama period, 1590 | A-1069 |