Untitled
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 3/4 in. (36.2 x 27.3 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
A large, patterned bird of prey with a small bird in its talons on a snow-covered branch
Detailed Description
The artwork depicts a large bird of prey, likely a hawk or falcon, perched on a snow-covered branch, rendered in ink wash on a light-colored ground. The bird dominates the left and center of the composition, facing left with its head turned slightly to the right, its yellow eye prominent. Its plumage is intricately detailed with varying shades of gray and black, creating a striped and mottled pattern across its body and wings. Its powerful talons grip the branch, and a small, dark-feathered bird is clutched within them, appearing lifeless. The branch itself is thick and extends diagonally from lower left to upper right, heavily laden with white snow, contrasting with the darker tones of the underlying wood. Behind the main bird, to the right, another snow-covered branch or tree trunk is visible, rendered with broad, soft brushstrokes. The background is a muted, light gray, appearing hazy or distant. In the lower right corner, there is a vertical line of dark calligraphy and a square red seal. The entire image is framed by a narrow gold border.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
