Cuckoo flying over deutzia flowers c. 1766

This is "Cuckoo flying over deutzia flowers" by Komatsuya Hyakki, created sometime in the 18th century. It's a Japanese woodblock print that captures a fleeting moment in nature. Notice the composition, divided into distinct zones. The lower part is dominated by the lush vegetation, with delicate pink and white deutzia flowers. This creates a sense of groundedness, while the upper part is airy and open, featuring a cuckoo in flight against a cloudy sky. The artist skillfully uses diagonal lines of bamboo to direct the eye upwards, connecting these two realms. The calligraphic inscriptions add another layer, visually balancing the organic forms. Through these formal elements, the artist creates a dynamic interplay between nature and culture, stillness and movement, inviting us to contemplate the transient beauty of the natural world.