Hawk c. 16th century

ink-on-paper, hanging-scroll

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

japan

possibly oil pastel

ink-on-paper

hanging-scroll

pencil drawing

coloured pencil

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Hawk" is a 16th-century ink painting by Kano Yukinobu, a prominent figure in the Kano school of Japanese art. This hanging scroll depicts a hawk perched on a branch, its detailed feathers and powerful stance captured with masterful brushwork. The minimalist background highlights the hawk's form, creating a sense of stillness and serenity. The painting demonstrates the Kano school's focus on meticulous observation and masterful execution, showcasing the beauty and power of nature in a highly refined style.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

This painting of a hawk perched on the branch of an old tree and possibly eyeing some prey below was once the left half of a pair of paintings (see its original mate below). The hawk’s feathers, meticulously rendered in fine brushwork over various shades of ink wash, reflect the influence of artist Kano Yukinobu’s better-known older brother, Kano Motonobu (1476–1559), the second-generation head of the powerful Kano house, which dominated Japanese painting circles from the 1500s to 1800s. A key subject in the Kano repertoire, birds of prey were symbols of power and might that would have appealed to one of the Kano house’s military patrons.