Summer Flowers

Kitagawa Sōsetsu

Cleveland Museum of Art

The painting "Summer Flowers" by Kitagawa Sōsetsu depicts a still life of flowers and plants on a beige background. The image shows a tall plant with white flowers and grayish-green leaves in the center, with a cluster of red fruits or berries to the right and green and white leaves to the left. The tall plant has a thin stem with multiple branches bearing white flowers that resemble hydrangeas. The leaves of the tall plant are oval-shaped and grayish-green in color. There are several clusters of small, white flowers on the plant. The cluster of red fruits or berries is located at the bottom right of the painting and appears to be attached to a vine with green leaves. The green and white leaves are large and rounded, with yellow lines indicating veins. The background of the painting is a solid beige color, resembling aged paper. The painting is framed by a thin, brown border. The overall style of the painting is traditional Japanese, with simple yet elegant brushstrokes and a focus on natural forms. The painting features a small inscription in the bottom-left corner.