Kakemono Quails in the Grass

Two quails move through tall, autumnal-looking grass, their speckled plumage rendered with the finest brush touches, while one of the two has opened its beak, as if calling out to its companion. Delicate foliage along the upper edge of the picture frames the scene and heightens the impression of a fleeting moment observed from nature.

Quails have been regarded as a popular autumn motif in Japanese painting since the Edo period, associated with modesty and rural idyll. The dense patterning of the plumage, in places almost pointillist in effect, reveals a precise power of observation and a calm, patient brushwork.

The work bears the signature and seal of Hiroune Araki (1831-1915) and is kept in an accompanying wooden box. With its warm, earthy coloring, this kakemono, titled Quails in the Grass, is an atmospheric companion through the autumn months and a welcome addition to any collection of traditional Japanese animal painting. The careful preservation over more than a century is evident in the overall good condition of the painting.