Flock of Cranes [left of a pair] c. 18th century

Ishida Yūtei painted this six-panel screen with ink and color on gilded paper sometime in the mid-18th century. These elegant cranes embody the Japanese ideal of beauty in the Edo period. At the time, the rising merchant class had become consumers of art, and they were especially drawn to depictions of birds and flowers. The crane in particular was a popular symbol of longevity and good fortune, and it was often used as a decorative motif on screens, kimonos, and other luxury goods. What does it mean to see one of these screens in a museum today? Does it retain some of its aura of luxury? Is its symbolism still potent? Art historians rely on a range of resources to understand the social context of art. By researching the cultural and economic history of the Edo period, we can begin to understand the screen not just as a beautiful object, but as a product of its time.