Myna on a Branch [left of a triptych of Scholar with Heron and Myna] by Kusumi Morikage

Myna on a Branch [left of a triptych of Scholar with Heron and Myna] c. mid 17th century

ink-on-paper

pencil drawn

amateur sketch

light pencil work

pencil sketch

incomplete sketchy

japan

ink-on-paper

pencil drawing

ink drawing experimentation

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Myna on a Branch" is a hanging scroll by the renowned Japanese artist Kusumi Morikage, dating back to the mid-17th century. This artwork depicts a myna perched on a branch, rendered with delicate brushstrokes and washes in a style characteristic of the artist's oeuvre. Morikage is known for his masterful depictions of birds and other natural subjects, capturing their essence with elegance and precision. The scroll's minimalist composition and subtle color palette evoke a sense of tranquility and harmony, reflecting the Zen aesthetic that influenced Japanese art of this period.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Japanese hanging scrolls often come in groups of three: a central figure painting flanked by birds, landscapes, or complementary figures. Kusumi Morikage made this triptych’s central figure a Chinese scholar whose servant boy holds a pole to display a hanging scroll painting of bamboo. Though unidentified, the scholar is likely Su Dongpo (1037–1101), a famous Chinese statesman, poet, and painter. Bird-and-flower paintings in an abbreviated, quasi-Chinese style complement this portrait of an ancient Chinese literary hero.