Herons in the Snow

Nakabayashi Chikutō Japanese

Not on view

The characteristic decorative quality of Chikutō's painting is amply evident here in the rhythmic arrangement of the herons, boldly framed by their snowy perch. The stark black-and-white contrasts and the repetitive patterns of horizontal washes that define the white forms of the birds and branches further contribute to an effect of graphic elegance. Chikutō, born a doctor's son in Nagoya, moved in 1815 to Kyoto, where he joined the circle of the nanga artist Rai Sanyō (1780–1832).

Herons in the Snow, Nakabayashi Chikutō (Japanese, 1776–1853), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

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painting

Herons in the Snow, Nakabayashi Chikutō (Japanese, 1776–1853), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Herons in the Snow, Nakabayashi Chikutō (Japanese, 1776–1853), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Herons in the Snow, Nakabayashi Chikutō (Japanese, 1776–1853), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

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