Eagle Attacking a Mountain Lion 1885

This is Kawanabe Kyōsai’s “Eagle Attacking a Mountain Lion,” made with ink and color on silk, likely in the late 19th century. Kyōsai was a master of Japanese painting, and he uses the traditional materials with great skill. The silk provides a smooth, absorbent surface for the ink, allowing for the fine details of the eagle's feathers and the mountain lion's fur. The artist's brushstrokes capture the dynamic energy of the scene, with the eagle's powerful wings and the mountain lion's desperate struggle conveyed through the flow of ink. The monochrome palette focuses attention on the forms and textures, while the subtle gradations of tone create depth and atmosphere. Kyōsai's deep understanding of his materials, combined with his technical skill, is typical of artists working during the Edo and Meiji periods. This kind of virtuosity is often devalued in the context of fine art, but here it is front and center. Only through attention to materials and making can we truly appreciate the artist’s achievement.