Francolin and Chrusanthemum c. 1860
yoshikawashokoku
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, ink, color-on-paper
toned paper
water colours
henna art
japan
handmade artwork painting
ink
color-on-paper
coffee painting
botanical drawing
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
botanical art
watercolor
"Francolin and Chrusanthemum" is a woodblock print by Yoshikawa Shōkoku, a Japanese artist, created around 1860. The artwork depicts a francolin, a type of partridge, perched on a branch of chrysanthemum flowers. The use of fine lines and delicate colors creates a sense of tranquility and beauty, showcasing the artist's meticulous skills in capturing nature's details. This print, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to the rich tradition of Japanese woodblock printing and its celebration of the natural world.
Comments
Francolins, or shako in Japanese, are often confused with partridges, their smaller cousins. The Japanese associate both birds with autumn, since they can be seen in the fields as the grain ripens. Francolins however, were regarded as more poetic than partridges because of their long-standing association with Chinese verse. Their melancholic cry to the Chinese ear sounds like "Don't go there, my dear," which can be interpreted as a desperate warning to a loved one. The Japanese adopted this poetic allusion and it appears in the first verse on this print. Yoshikawa Shøkoku, who excelled at depicting birds and flowers, renders the francolin with its characteristic yellowish brown feathers ----useful camouflage amid autumn grass but not against red chrysanthemums.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
