Autumn Ivy by Ogata Kenzan, created after 1732, is an album leaf mounted as a hanging scroll executed in ink, color, and gold on paper. The composition centers on a cluster of ivy leaves rendered in deep green and brown, with surrounding smaller leaves in vivid red and orange tones. Fine, fluid brushstrokes define the stems and veins, while the background remains unpainted, allowing the natural color of the paper to serve as negative space.

Calligraphy occupies the upper right portion of the sheet, balancing the botanical forms with vertical lines of text. This work is characteristic of early eighteenth-century Japanese painting, where natural motifs and poetry were often combined in small-format works such as album leaves or hanging scrolls. Ogata Kenzan was known for his contributions to the Rinpa school, which emphasized decorative design, elegant compositions, and the use of luxurious materials like gold. The album leaf format and the use of ink, color, and gold on paper reflect the period’s taste for refined, poetic images intended for intimate viewing.

The work dates from after 1732, and its current mounting as a hanging scroll is consistent with later presentation practices for such pieces.