Roosters and Hens [left of a pair] by Ito Jakuchu

Roosters and Hens [left of a pair] c. 18th century

ink-on-paper

toned paper

ink drawing

egg art

ink painting

henna art

junji ito style

japan

ink-on-paper

fluid art

ink drawing experimentation

tattoo art

pencil art

"Roosters and Hens [left of a pair]" is a six-panel screen painting by the renowned Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu, created around the 18th century. It depicts a dynamic composition of roosters and hens rendered in meticulous detail, with striking black ink on a pale background. Jakuchu's masterful brushwork captures the birds' feathery textures and lively movements. The screen, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, exemplifies Jakuchu's meticulous approach to nature, showcasing his keen observation and masterful depiction of the animal kingdom.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This pair of folding screens features twelve individual compositions, each pasted onto its own panel, a format known as an oshiebari screen. Each painting shows either a rooster or a hen (look out for two chicks hidden in one picture). Overlaid brushstrokes in varied ink tones capture the details of feathers and combs. Against white paper marked with only the briefest suggestions of natural settings—cactus, bamboo, pine tree, banana plant, willow tree—the birds’ flamboyant poses and dramatic plumage stand out. Chickens were the favorite subject of Itō Jakuchū, one the best-known painters in Kyoto in the 1700s.