Kan'yōsai Picture Album (Kan'yōsai gafu 寒葉斎画譜): [volume 2] 1762

This woodblock print, "Kan'yōsai Picture Album (Kan'yōsai gafu 寒葉斎画譜): [volume 2]," depicts two birds swimming on a body of water. The image is a single page from a larger album by the artist Kan'yōsai, who was known for his masterful use of ink to portray realistic animal subjects, such as in this detailed depiction of the birds' feathers and the water's ripples. Kan'yōsai, whose real name was Tatebe Ayatari, was a prominent artist who flourished during the Edo period (1603–1868) in Japan. This album provides a fascinating glimpse into the natural world through the eyes of a skilled and meticulous artist.