Matsuura screens, National treasure folding screen in Nara, Japan
The Matsuura screens are painted folding panels depicting women with musical instruments arranged across six sections. The work employs rich colors and careful brushwork to show figures in various poses with elaborate decorative elements throughout.
These screens date from the Edo period, when decorative folding panels became prized objects for homes of the wealthy. The work shows artistic developments and techniques that emerged during this time.
The screens depict women engaged in musical performance and social gatherings, offering glimpses into how leisure and entertainment were valued in historical Japanese society. These scenes show what activities brought people together.
You can view these screens at the Museum Yamato Bunkakan in Nara, where they are carefully preserved and displayed. The museum manages light and temperature conditions to protect the fragile artwork.
High-quality reproductions of these screens were made using specialized colotype printing developed by the Benrido Atelier, a Kyoto workshop founded in the 1880s. This printing method lets more people see the artwork while protecting the original panels from damage.
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