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

Ganku / Zhou Chu Eliminates Three Evils
At first glance, it looks like a landscape painting, but there is a small tiger depicted. Based on the Chinese legend "Zhou Chu Eliminates Three Evils", this painting depicts the scene of Zhou Chu killing the white-fronted tiger of Nanzan Mountain.
Watanabe Nangaku / Stream, Young sweetfish
The painting shows a school of sweetfish swimming with the current of the river, and the artist's skill in maximizing the image with minimal elements is superb. This is a work that only Nangaku, who excelled at painting scaled fish, could have created.
Yoshimura Houryu / A raccoon dog under the moon
The raccoon dog walks silently in the light of the hazy moon. The quiet autumn night scene is linked with the cold expression of the raccoon dog, and it is sure to catch your eye.
Kato Bunrei / A swallow flying under the willows
The startled expression on the face is quite lovely. This is a work by Kato Bunrei, Tani Buncho's master in his childhood.
Yamaguchi Soken / A tiger drinking water in a strong wind
A tiger drinking water from a river while being buffeted by a strong wind. Its expression is adorable and not the least bit scary. Yamaguchi Soken specializes in Japanese beauty paintings, but he also paints a variety of animal paintings.
Honnyo / Flying swallow with wisteria
Wisteria flowers and a flying swallow. This work captured a scene from a peaceful daily life unique to spring. Among the successive head monks of Honganji Temple, Honnyo was particularly skilled in painting and left behind many works.
Mio Goseki / Cat
A weasel chasing a mouse, and a cat catching the weasel. This work is an epitome of the law of the jungle. Next to the signature is the inscription "Rin-ne (Sansara)".
Kosugi Hoan / Playing birds with plum blossoms
The bleeding of the paint creates a unique atmosphere. This work conveys a warm gaze towards living creatures.
Tomita Keisen / A little bird and cherry blossoms
This piece evokes the splendor of spring.
Tokuoka Shinsen / Puppy
The work depicting a puppy under a bamboo tree is called "Issho-zu(一笑図)", which expresses a wish for the prosperity of offspring.
Maeda Seison / Millet
The two sparrows are adorable and have a gentle charm. This is a work by Maeda Seison, who studied the traditions of Yamato-e painting deeply.
Maeda Seison / Wagtail
The bold composition and simple brushworks are superb. This work gives a glimpse of Maeda Seison's gaze on living creatures.
Horie Yusei / 2 Hanging scrolls of Dragon and Tiger
A grinning dragon and a tiger. The ferocity of both is beautifully expressed.
Kakizaki Hakyo / Flowers laugh and birds sing , wide hanging scroll
The red and white flower under the bamboo hat is probably a camellia. This flower-and-bird painting shows the influence of the Maruyama-Shijo school.
Dodo Konen / A snake and Young bamboo
Snakes, which are depicted as evil in Western paintings, are considered symbols of wealth and water in Japan.
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Maruyama Okyo / Playing turtle
This is a heartwarming piece of work depicting a turtle swimming leisurely and playing, and other turtles that appear to be parent and child watching over it. The box is inscribed by Kawabata Shigeaki, a Meiji-era Japanese painter and the son of Kawabata Gyokusho.
Goshun / Grasshopper, rice and moon
This is a calming autumn piece that evokes the feeling of a refreshing night breeze.
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Maruyama Okyo / Plovers with a wintry moon
This is a masterpiece that depicts a half moon floating brilliantly in the bitterly cold sky and plovers, a familiar winter seasonal word in haiku, using only ink. It has a box with the inscription by Mori Ippo who was a Mori school painter from the late Edo period. Formerly owned by the Setsuda family, a sake wholesaler that has been in business since the Edo period.
Tanabata (Orihime and Kengyu)
A work based on the Chinese legend of Orihime and Kengyu. The two smiling at each other are depicted with the elegant brushworks.
Ishiko Yurin / Woodpecker in Autumn Mountain
This painting vividly expresses the atmosphere of autumn. The delicately painted work is gorgeous and beautiful.
Inscription by Obaku Kacho, painted by Mori Sosen / Monkey parent and child
The fluffy fur and carefully drawn affectionate gestures will warm your heart. This is an excellent work by Mori Sosen, a master of monkey painting.
Nakamura Gakuryo / Sweetfish
The sweetfish was delicately depicted with the painting style that incorporated early modern Western painting techniques into Yamato-e painting.
Junyo / Bird and flowers
A flower-and-bird painting by the 18th abbot of Higashi Honganji, Junyo. The bird's gesture is cute, and the painting tells that he was as skilled as a professional painter.
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Nagasawa Rosetsu / Sparrows and the rising sun
This is a painting of sparrows by Nagasawa Rosetsu, who enjoyed painting animals. The richness of the sparrow's facial expression conveys his warm gaze towards living creatures.