Fan-Shaped Paintings

Unknown artist

Muromachi period, 15th–16th century

Color on paper

Tokyo National Museum

A gold fan painting features a delicate branch with pink flowers and green leaves against a gradient background. The fan shape is prominent, with a dark edge on the right. A gold fan painting features a delicate branch with pink flowers and green leaves against a gradient background. The fan shape is prominent, with a dark edge on the right. Judging from their creases, these 24 fan-shaped paintings may have been used as actual folding fans and were later assembled into this album. The themes of these paintings vary from scenes from tales to birds and flowers, as well as seasonal subjects.