Kakemono Two Crows in a Snowy Night

Two crows sit closely huddled together on a snow-covered branch, while in the background the full moon shimmers through thin veils of cloud. Fine white snowflakes are scattered across the entire pictorial surface, lending the nocturnal scene a particular stillness.

The crows are rendered in soft shades of gray, so that they almost merge into the darkness of the night and remain recognizable only by their contours and occasional light reflections in the plumage. The motif of the pair of birds in moonlight is a popular symbol in Japanese painting for togetherness and quiet companionship. The scene was painted on silk, whose fine texture lends additional depth to the gradations of ink and color.

The jikusaki at the ends of the roller rods is made of wood. This kakemono from the Meiji period is a poetic choice for lovers of evocative Japanese nature painting.