Watervogels 1800 - 1900

Ishikawa Kazan produced this delicate study of birds in ink and colour on paper in the early nineteenth century. The image presents several waterfowl in various poses, combining careful observation with the conventions of Japanese painting at the time. Kazan lived during the late Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity under the Tokugawa shogunate, but also increasing social stratification and economic challenges. Artists like Kazan were often supported by the samurai class, who embraced cultural pursuits as a sign of refinement. Bird-and-flower painting, known as *kachōga*, was a popular genre, often laden with symbolic meanings. These images reflected a deep appreciation of the natural world and often carried moral or philosophical messages. To understand this work fully, we need to look into the social structures of Edo-period Japan and the role of art within them. By consulting historical texts, examining patronage networks, and analysing the symbolism of *kachōga*, we gain a richer appreciation of this drawing and its cultural significance.