Minneapolis Institute of Art

Cranes [left of a pair]

Japan

Date

18th century

Medium

Six-panel folding screen, one of a pair, color and ink on gold

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Red-crowned cranes were once ubiquitous throughout the wetlands of China, Korea, and Japan. Their impressive size (up to five feet tall), striking coloration, and lively “dance” made them a popular subject among artists. In East Asian mythology, they were believed to live for a thousand years, and thus became auspicious symbols of longevity. This set of screens would have been appropriate for especially felicitous events such as birthday and New Year’s celebrations.

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