Cover art · birds

Birds and Flowers

Kano Shōei (Japanese, 1519–1592), late 1500s.

Birds and Flowers
Birds and Flowers — Cleveland Museum of Art

Using it on a cover

The print file prints up to 11.3 x 5.4 in at 300 ppi — fine for smaller trims or inset artwork, but too small to fill a 6 x 9 in cover at 300 ppi. Wider than a 6 x 9 cover: crop about 68% of the width, or use it as a wraparound across back and spine.

About the work

The landscape depicted in this pair of screens follows a seasonal progression from right to left, starting with the blossoming plum of early spring and ending with late autumn peonies. A variety of smaller birds are positioned throughout the scene, and a trio of swimming ducks is bracketed by early summer irises and early autumn bellflowers at the center. While some raptors (birds of prey) terrorize a pheasant and an egret (a waterfowl) to the right, a peacock and peahen converse to the left. Hawks are associated with military prowess, while the peafowl suggest cultural prestige.

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