曽我二直庵筆 鷹図|Hawks
The Met
Artist: Soga Nichokuan(Japanese, active mid-17th century)
Date: mid-17th century
Department: Asian Art
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Pair of hanging scrolls; ink on paper
Dimensions: Image: 49 15/16 × 22 3/8 in. (126.8 × 56.8 cm) Overall with mounting: 81 5/16 × 27 1/16 in. (206.5 × 68.7 cm) Overall with knobs: 81 5/16 × 29 3/16 in. (206.5 × 74.1 cm)
Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2018
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Two ink wash paintings depict birds of prey, one perched on a leafy branch, the other on rocks
Detailed Description
This artwork consists of two vertical ink wash paintings, presented side-by-side. Both are rendered in shades of black and gray on a light, cream-colored background, with faint red seals visible on each.The left painting features a bird of prey, likely a hawk or falcon, positioned slightly above the center. The bird faces left, its head turned slightly upwards. Its feathers are meticulously detailed with fine lines and varying shades of gray, creating texture. It perches on a gnarled branch that extends from the lower left upwards and to the left, adorned with several broad, dark leaves. Faint, lighter brushstrokes suggest a misty background below the branch. In the lower left corner, there is a small block of vertical text in black ink, accompanied by a square red seal; the text is illegible.The right painting also depicts a bird of prey, similar in size and detail to the one on the left. This bird is positioned slightly above the center, facing right, with its head turned slightly upwards. It stands firmly on a prominent, rugged rock formation rendered with strong, dark ink washes that define its craggy surfaces and shadows. Behind and to the right of the rocks, a lighter, indistinct mountain or hill rises, fading into the light background. A small, square red seal is visible in the lower right corner, near the base of the rocks.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
