Cypress Trees was created around 1590 by Kanō Eitoku during the Azuchi–Momoyama period. The work originally formed part of a set of painted sliding doors (shōji) and was later remounted as folding screens. Following the Meiji Restoration, it passed from the Katsura-no-miya family to the Imperial Household and was eventually transferred to the nation. Today, it is preserved as a National Treasure in the Tokyo National Museum, Japan
Cypress Trees is regarded as one of the mmost important surviving works of Kano Eitoku, the leading painter of Kano school during Japan's Azuchi- Momoyama period. Created around 1590, the artwork depicts a massive cypress tree spreading across a pair of folding screens. Rather than than presenting a detailed landscape, Eitoku focuses on the imposing form of the tree itself, which dominates the composition with its twisting trunk, expansive branches and dense foliage. The tree is set against a luminous gold background that creates a striking contrast and gives the work a sense of grandeur and monumentality.
The oainting reflects the artistic idelas of the Momoyama Period, an era marked by political unification, military power and the construction of magnificent castles and residences. Eitoku was closely associated with powerful leaders such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who commissioned large-scale decorative paintings to display authority and prestige. The bold composition, simplified forms and extensive use of gold leaf seen in the painting became characteristics of the so-called blue & gold style for which the artist is renowned.
One of the most unique aspects of the artwork is the way it tranformes a single tree into monumental presence. The Cypress appears almost larger than life, filling the screens and creating a strong sense of movement and vitality. Although the subject is simple, the painting conveys remarkable energy through its sweeping brushwork and asymmetrical composition.
The work is also significant because it demostrates the artist'sability to balance decorative beauty with natural observation. While the tre is stylized, it retains a convincing sense of resilience.
This striking 1590 folding screen by Kanō Eitoku perfectly captures the bold grandeur of Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama period. The massive, muscular cypress tree dominates the gold-leaf background, showcasing powerful, expressive brushwork. It’s a masterclass in monumental scale and dynamic composition, beautifully bridging nature and architectural space.
