Untitled
The Met
Artist: Sesson Shūkei(ca. 1504–ca. 1589)
Date: probably 19th century
Department: Asian Art
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Matted painting; ink on paper
Dimensions: Image: 16 9/16 × 19 7/8 in. (42 × 50.5 cm)
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
An ink wash painting of a raptor on a gnarled branch, surrounded by smaller birds
Detailed Description
An ink wash painting on aged, light brown paper features a large raptor-like bird centrally perched on a thick, gnarled tree branch. The raptor faces forward, its head slightly tilted, with detailed feather patterns rendered in varying shades of dark gray and black ink. Its eyes are prominent and round. Surrounding the raptor are seven smaller, dark-feathered birds, also perched on the branch and its offshoots. To the left of the raptor, three smaller birds are visible. The uppermost left bird faces right with an open beak. Below it, another bird faces right, also with an open beak. A third bird, positioned slightly lower and more centrally, faces left with its beak open. To the right of the raptor, four more smaller birds are arranged. The uppermost right bird faces left with an open beak. Below it, another bird faces left. Further down and to the right, a bird faces left with an open beak, and below it, a fourth bird faces left. All the smaller birds are depicted with dark, almost black, bodies and lighter areas around their faces, suggesting open beaks or lighter plumage. The tree branch extends horizontally across the middle of the composition, with smaller twigs and sparse foliage rendered in lighter ink washes. The background is a plain, light brown, with faint, lighter ink washes suggesting distant foliage or atmosphere. Faint red marks, possibly seals, are visible in the upper left and upper right corners.
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