Reproductions of these original forms are still popular today. Among the most popular subject matter were the bird and flower. The painting consists of plum trees, cherry blossoms or peonies with mandarin ducks, pheasants, cranes or sparrows gracing the botanicals.
As with most things Asian, there is symbolism in everything in the painting. For instance, the mandarin ducks, which mate for life, symbolize fidelity. The cranes stand for long life because of their long necks. The plum tree, which is the first to flower, symbolizes the advent of spring.
Other popular scenes are taken from a novel, written in the 11th century, called Tale of Genji. It is a romantic story about the conquests of Genji, who was the prince of an ancient royal family. Landscapes are another common scene. Here your imagination is needed. Often the tops of mountains are left unfinished, obscured by mist. In the midst of the mist we need to imagine where the top of that mountain might be. Upon further observation, the path will reappear somewhere on the mountain. The meandering of the unseen path is left to the imagination allowing the viewer to create their own scene.
The technique of making painted fabric or paper screens originated in China around the sixth century. From China it went to Japan. It was common practice for shoguns (military big-wigs) to send hand painted screens as gifts to the Japanese emperor.
Today, screens are made on hollow core panels. Several layers of reinforcing paper are then placed on both sides of the panel to keep it straight and to give it body. Antiqued paper, fabric or cork is then applied. Often the paper is treated with a metal-leaf finish of gold, silver or pewter. Double action hinges join the panels and from there the screen is taken to the artist who will paint it.
The finest quality screens are made in Japan. Good reproductions are being made in Hong Kong at lower prices.
(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, Fla.)
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