This elegant pair of vintage shikishi print boards features high-quality printed reproductions of “红白芙蓉图”—the celebrated Red and White Cotton Roses by the Southern Song dynasty court painter Li Di (李迪, active 12th century). The original painting is preserved today in the Tokyo National Museum, treasured as a masterpiece of bird-and-flower (花鸟画) artistry.
Rendered in the refined style of the Song imperial academy, the composition captures the soft, velvety blooms of the cotton rose (芙蓉) in full seasonal splendor. One board highlights pure white blossoms, while the other presents a harmonious contrast with petals gently flushed in red. Li Di’s distinctive treatment of texture—seen in the delicate shading of the petals and the crisp structure of the leaves—remains beautifully echoed in these early shikishi reproductions.
The background maintains a warm, aged tone, enhancing the classical atmosphere and lending the prints the charm of traditional mounting. Each board shows gentle vintage wear appropriate for its age, adding to its authenticity and antique character.
