Birds 1867 - 1891

"Birds" is a Japanese painting on a fan by Shibata Zeshin, a prominent artist of the late Edo period. Dating from between 1867 and 1891, the work features a delicate depiction of a flock of birds in flight, rendered in a minimalist style. Zeshin's skill in capturing the graceful movement and delicate features of the birds is evident in the fluid brushstrokes and subtle shading. This artwork is a fine example of Zeshin's mastery of the traditional Japanese painting techniques of ink and wash, which he adapted to create his own distinctive style. The painting is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.