Lovely design from a series illustrating events relating to the twelve months of the year. After an ancient plum tree in the Imperial garden died, court attendants sought a replacement. They found a beautiful old tree in a woman's yard, and she graciously honored their request to take it away. Before they left, she wrote a poem and tied it to the tree: "Since it was the emperor's order, I was very honored and could not refuse. But what should I answer when the bush warblers ask me where their nest has gone?" When the emperor read the poem, he had the tree returned to her, naming it the Plum of the Bush Warbler's Nest. Here the woman receives the court visitors, kneeling under the tree covered with delicate pink and white buds. The two birds can be seen in the branches above. A beautiful illustration of this famous tale.
Artist - Gekko (1859 - 1920)
Image Size - 9" x 13" + margins as shown
Condition - Nice color and good detail. Backed with paper. Lightly rubbed spot near top of pine branch, a few small spots.