Two Cranes and a Pine Tree c. 18th century
maruyamaokyoyuanshanyingju
minneapolisinstituteofart
hanging-scroll, ink
water colours
japan
possibly oil pastel
handmade artwork painting
oil painting
hanging-scroll
ink
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
watercolor
warm toned green
Maruyama Ōkyo, a prominent Japanese painter of the 18th century, is known for his masterful portrayal of nature. "Two Cranes and a Pine Tree" (c. 18th century), exemplifies Ōkyo's signature style, known as Maruyama-Shijō, which combined traditional Chinese ink painting techniques with a meticulous attention to detail and realistic depiction of nature. The work showcases two cranes perched near a pine tree, their graceful forms and detailed plumage rendered with remarkable precision. The use of delicate brushstrokes and subtle color gradients adds depth and realism to the composition, creating a serene and evocative scene.
Comments
Maruyama O_kyo was the founder of a school of naturalist painters in the city of Kyoto in the 18th century. He artfully combined the traditional Japanese decorative compositional approach with elements of Western realism. For this painting of two cranes, O_kyo carefully depicted the birds' plumage and scaly texture of their legs. He also created a convincing sense of space and volume by foreshortening the neck of one of the cranes. Red-crowned cranes were once ubiquitous throughout the wetlands of China, Korea and Japan. Their impressive size, striking coloration, and lively "dance" made them a popular subject among artists. In East Asian mythology, they are believed to live for 1,000 years, and thus became auspicious symbols of longevity.
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