Three Crossbills on a Leafless Tree c. 1878

Editor: Here we have “Three Crossbills on a Leafless Tree” from around 1878, created by Kawanabe Kyōsai. It’s a hanging scroll, done in ink and pencil – quite delicate, actually. It gives off a rather stark, lonely vibe, I think, with the bare tree. What do you make of it? Curator: Lonely is interesting. I see it as the stark beauty of winter's endurance. Kyosai's brushstrokes have this calligraphic quality; each line feels deliberate, expressive, almost like a little poem on its own. Notice how he suggests the landscape with just the faintest wash of ink, creating depth with minimal effort. Makes me think of a haiku... Editor: A haiku? Because it’s so spare? I guess I can see that. The birds do add a bit of life though, a splash of reddish color against the gray. Curator: Absolutely. The crossbills, with their distinct beaks, are key. Kyosai had this wicked sense of humor, so maybe the birds, cheerfully clinging to a barren branch, are a little wink at resilience. Or maybe a playful dig at finding beauty even in scarcity. Ever feel like that during finals week? Editor: (Laughs) Definitely! So, Kyosai's known for humor then? Was that typical for ukiyo-e artists? Curator: Kyosai was unique; he bent the rules. While ukiyo-e often captured the pleasures of Edo life, Kyosai had a wilder spirit, a penchant for the satirical, almost rebellious. And his artistic life was colourful too – legends involving copious amounts of sake and impromptu masterpieces. What a character! Editor: Wow, I’ll have to look more into him! I came in thinking 'melancholy,' but now I see there’s a kind of stubborn joy in it too. Curator: Exactly! That’s what I adore about Kyosai. He gets you thinking, feeling, questioning. A master of making you feel something deeper. Editor: Makes me look at simple landscapes a lot different than I used to, really. Thanks!