Rooster c. late 18th century

color-on-silk, hanging-scroll, ink

color-on-silk

japan

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

hanging-scroll

ink

fluid art

acrylic on canvas

coffee painting

underpainting

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

Sō Shiseki's "Rooster" (c. late 18th century) showcases the artist's mastery of Japanese painting. The painting depicts a rooster standing proudly on a rock, its plumage rendered with delicate brushstrokes and vibrant colors. The rooster's presence is emphasized by the sparse background, a simple landscape of a tree branch and a few leaves. The artist's signature, written in the upper right corner, adds an air of authenticity. "Rooster" is a testament to Sō Shiseki's keen observation of nature and his ability to capture the essence of his subject through his artistic vision.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The format and conventions of book design meant that illustrations did not translate directly to paintings, and Edo-period readers were likely aware of the differences. Images in books were not expected to be copied one-to-one; rather, they were adapted to the appropriate format. In this painting, Shiseki works from the established genre of paintings of bird and flowers or plants. In both the illustration and the book, the rooster is paired with the Chinese parasol tree (in Chinese, wutong). The use of color allowsShiseki to demonstrate his understanding of Western-style shading as well as Chinese symbolism.