日本の動物画‐いきもののかたち‐ 江戸期の花鳥画などかわいい日本画のサイト - Arts -

Japanese arts of animals

Hine Taizan / An Egret in a Lotus Pond
Taizan excelled at landscape painting, but he also captured the vivid figures of living creatures in his flower-and-bird paintings.
Maruyama Okyo / A heron with willow trees in the rain
The pale, light ink used in the painting creates the feeling of the humid atmosphere of a rainy day.
Hirowatari Ganpi（Kosyu）/ Mother and child cranes with pine trees
This work was exhibited at the "Cute Edo Paintings" exhibition held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2013. The generous brushwork and soft colors create a heartwarming scene of the parent and child.
Kishi Renzan / Tiger roaring under the moon
The tiger painting by Renzan, the third generation of the Kishi school, gives the impression of tiger's solid frame under the cover of its fluffy fur.
Matumura Keibun / Willow and a bush warbler
It is painted in a single color of ink, but gives the feeling of early spring.
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Konoshima Okoku / Deer playing in the snow
A herd of deer playing on a frozen, snowy mountain. This is a painting that fully demonstrates Okoku's artistic ability.
Kano Chikanobu / Sparrow and mayfly
Mayflies are used as a seasonal word to symbolize transience. The sight of a sparrow going after a mayfly caught in a spider's web could be seen as a symbol of the survival of the fittest.
Muromachi-Momoyama period / Plum and three wise monkeys
"The three wise monkeys" are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil (mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru)". This work was painted during the Muromachi period.
Irie Hako / Longing for spring
A dog with the dignified appearance is lying down in a clear snowy landscape. The red plum blossoms give a subtle feeling of spring.
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Yoshimura Kokei / 3 hanging scrolls of Cranes, a Turtle and Jurojin
Yoshimura Kokei, one of the Ten Excellent Painters of the Okyo School, is known for developing the more advanced style of Okyo's realism.
Hazama Seigai / Two hanging scrolls of a thousand Cranes and Turtles
Hazama Seigai is also known as the teacher of Matsuura Shodo, a Choshu clan patriot who graduated from Shokasonjuku Academy. This painting features numerous cranes and turtles.
Haruki Nanmei / A deer under the moon
Nanmei had a gentle personality and many patrons, and it is said that Yamauchi Yodo, the lord of the Tosa domain, favored Nanmei so much that he had him live next door to his villa. This work was painted when Nanmei was 81 years old.
Yamamoto Shunkyo / A rare bird on the winter shore
This bird has a charming bright yellow belly. Grey wagtails have the habit of constantly shaking their tail feathers up and down. This is a scroll that conveys the artist's interest.
Tokuoka Shinsen / Red carp
Watching carp makes you feel like time is flowing slowly. This piece also conveys the image of carp floating leisurely with the seaweed.
Tamaoki Raiseki / The tiger watches vigilantly for a chance
This is a tiger painting by Tamaki Raiseki, an animal painter who was active from the Meiji to Showa periods. Raiseki studied animal painting on his own, and became recognized by the world for his tiger painting techniques.
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Kankeko Kinryo / Joyful sparrows, plum blossoms, and confederate roses
Kaneko Kinryo was skilled in flower-and-bird paintings in The Nanpin style of painting. The three sparrows have different, adorable expressions. This work was painted in 1794.
Yamamoto Baiitsu / Red peach blossoms with two swallows
Swallows migrate to Japan with the arrival of spring. In this work, they are depicted together with peach blossoms, creating a scent of spring on the screen.
Matsumura Keibun / Peach blossoms and a small bird
The plump-looking Eurasian bullfinch is attractive. It appears that they love flower buds, and will even pluck off buds that are just starting to open. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
under negotiation
Hirowatari Ganpi（Koshu）/ Pine trees and a small bird in the snow
Aside from the subtle use of blue in the pine needles, the monochrome world spreads out, giving it a sense of tranquility. It was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Maruyama Okyo / Persimmons and a warbling white-eye
The transparent expression of the persimmon makes it look fresh and delicious. The dynamic brushwork and the splendid composition are impressive. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Tani Buncho / Reeds and a wild goose
Buncho seems to have captured the exact moment when the wild goose landed on the pond and painted it with great vigor in a short amount of time.
Konoshima Okoku / Snowy morning
Okoku, who studied under Imao Keinen, based his work on sketching and left many excellent animal paintings. This work is simple, yet evokes the clear air of early morning.
Sugimoto Kenkichi / Discussion about the belly button
The three of them show their bellies to each other and have a discussion. If you look closely at its belly, it seems that the kappa has a navel. Is the kappa, a Japanese monster, a mammal? We do not know for sure, but the puzzled expressions on the frog and turtle's faces make you laugh.
Kano Takanobu / Carp climbing up a waterfall
Kano Takanobu studied under Isen'in and worked on painting of the sliding screens of Edo Castle as an official painter for the Edo Shogunate. Compared to the precise expression of the carp, the depiction of the splashes of water is more stylized and unique.