ムクドリ図|Starlings on a Branch
The Met
Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎(Japanese, 1831–1889)
Date: ca. 1887
Department: Asian Art
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Album leaf; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: 14 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. (36.2 x 26.7 cm)
Credit Line: Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Two birds with open beaks, one large and one small, on a gnarled branch
Detailed Description
An ink wash painting depicts two birds perched on a gnarled branch against a light grey background. The larger bird is positioned in the upper center, facing left with its beak wide open. It is rendered in dark black ink, showing textured feathers and sharp claws gripping the branch. A distinct white circular patch is visible on its neck or upper chest. Below and to the left, a smaller bird is perched on the same branch, also facing left with its beak open. This bird is rendered in lighter grey and black ink, with visible wing feathers. The branch itself is thick and dark, extending from the lower left towards the right, with smaller, thinner branches and sparse leaves rendered with lighter ink washes. In the upper left and right corners, faint, dark ink washes suggest distant foliage or clouds. In the lower left corner, there is a red square seal with black calligraphy, and additional black calligraphy extends below it.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
