土佐光起筆 鷺図|Heron
The Met
Artist: Tosa Mitsuoki(Japanese, 1617–1691)
Date: 17th century
Department: Asian Art
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: Image: 38 1/8 × 16 5/16 in. (96.8 × 41.5 cm) Overall with mounting: 72 1/4 × 27 3/16 in. (183.5 × 69 cm)
Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2019
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A white egret with outstretched wings descends towards its reflection in water, surrounded by reeds
Detailed Description
The image is a vertical scroll painting featuring a white egret over water, set against a light golden-tan background. The egret, positioned in the upper half of the central panel, is depicted with its wings spread wide, positioned as if in mid-descent or ascent. Its body is angled downwards, and its long neck is curved, with its beak pointing towards the water below. Its long, slender legs are bent, with its feet tucked beneath its body. The bird's plumage is rendered in shades of white and light gray, with delicate brushstrokes suggesting individual feathers. Below the egret, in the lower half of the central panel, a faint reflection of the bird is visible in the pale, slightly darker tan area of water. The reflection shows the bird's body, wings, and legs, mirroring its pose above. To the right of the reflection, a cluster of tall, thin, dark green reeds rises from the water, with a few smaller, lighter green plants at their base. The central golden-tan panel is framed by two decorative fabric borders. The inner border, at the top and bottom, is a narrow strip of gold-colored fabric with a subtle, repeating floral or geometric pattern. The outer borders, running vertically along the left and right sides, are wider strips of teal-blue fabric. This teal fabric features a pattern of stylized white waves and small, gold-colored fish or scales. In the bottom right corner of the central panel, there is a vertical column of dark calligraphic text, followed by a red square seal.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
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