Willows and Bridge. Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Image (each): 61 5/16 in. × 11 ft. 5/16 in. (155.8 × 336 cm)Overall (each): 67 5/8 in. × 11 ft. 6 9/16 in. (171.8 × 352 cm). Date: early 17th century.With their contrasts of large dramatic forms and brilliant metallic shimmer, these screens represent the zenith of the decorative style of the late sixteenth century. Under a moonlit sky, a golden bridge creates a strong diagonal from the right screen to the left. Above the bridge, a glowing moon made of copper and attached to the screen by small pegs bears witness to the dramatic scene. A large waterwheel turns in the stream and four stone-filled baskets protect the embankments. Gently lapping waves of silver paint are tarnished with age. Paintings combining willows, a bridge, and a waterwheel immediately evoke the famous bridge over the Uji River in southeast Kyoto, a scenic view long celebrated by Japanese artists and poets. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.