Pheasant Caught by a Snake 1877 - 1897

Kawanabe Kyōsai’s ink and color on paper artwork, “Pheasant Caught by a Snake,” confronts us with a raw vision of nature's struggle. Kyōsai lived during the tumultuous end of the Edo period into the Meiji Restoration, a time of immense social upheaval. He was known for his unique blend of traditional Japanese painting with new influences, reflecting a society in transition. Here, the artist eschews idealized depictions of nature for a visceral scene of predation. The pheasant, coiled in the snake’s embrace, becomes a symbol of vulnerability, its struggle a mirror to the social anxieties of a rapidly changing Japan. The bamboo, often a symbol of resilience, offers little comfort here, overshadowed by the brutal reality of the hunt. Kyōsai, who embraced the "crazy painting" style, perhaps used this scene to reflect on the unsettling transformations of his era. "Pheasant Caught by a Snake" is not just a depiction of a hunt; it's a potent reflection on power, survival, and the delicate balance of life, mirroring the artist’s own negotiation of tradition and modernity.