Kakemono Willow and Cicada

A drooping willow branch, beside which a small cicada rests with folded wings – an unassuming but finely observed motif that the Kano school took up again and again throughout its long history.

The hanging scroll bears the signature and seal of Kanō Osanobu (Seisen’in). The narrow, pliant leaves of the willow are rendered with a confident, flowing brushstroke, while the cicada is suggested with only a few fine lines – a deliberate contrast between softness and precision.

The Kano school shaped Japan's official painting for centuries and was known for its combination of Chinese-inspired ink technique with decorative Japanese pictorial language. This piece shows the quiet, disciplined side of this tradition. Motifs featuring willow are considered in Japan a symbol of grace and yielding, and suit calm, sparsely furnished rooms well.