Bird on Tree (Haha-chō) 1504 - 1520

This is Bird on a Tree, or Haha-chō, painted with ink on paper by Shūkō in the early 16th century. The apparent simplicity of the image belies the artist's skill. Applying ink wash to paper requires complete mastery of the brush. The artist controls the consistency of the ink to create a tonal range, and they must work quickly. There's no room for error. Japanese ink wash painting draws from a history of calligraphy, where the movement of the hand communicates the spirit of the artist. In Shūkō's time, it was promoted by Zen Buddhist monks, for whom painting was a form of meditative practice. The act of painting becomes as important as the image itself. So, when you look at this artwork, remember that you're not just seeing a bird on a branch. You're seeing the record of a physical performance, evidence of the artist's discipline, and the traditions of making that lie behind it.