Crow on a Rock 1800 - 1868

"Crow on a Rock" is a hanging scroll painting by Sesson Shūkei, a renowned Japanese artist of the sixteenth century. The painting depicts a crow perched on a rock, rendered in a minimalist style with stark black ink against a light, faded background. This evocative work exemplifies Sesson's mastery of ink wash painting, known as *suibokuga*, a technique that emphasizes the subtle nuances of brushstrokes and ink washes to create depth and texture. This painting, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Sesson's keen observation of nature and his ability to capture the essence of his subject with a few masterful strokes.