Heron and Willow

ca. 1915

Japanese, 1870 - 1931

Tsuji Kako was conspicuous for his expressive, quietly emotional painting style that shimmered with artistic subjectivity. The lone white heron sheltered beneath a canopy of willow fronds effortlessly holds our focus, its body rendered in a few swift strokes. In contrast to its simple form is the mass of foliage, applied in layer after layer of dense pigment to dramatic effect. The calligraphic lines of the tree trunks and the light background washes provide visual balance to this mesmerizing painting.

Ink and light colors on silk

87 9/16 x 22 in. (222.4 x 55.9 cm)

Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum

2010.41.36

Photo: Eduardo Calderon

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, "Transforming Traditions: Japanese and Korean Art since 1800", May 23, 2009 - February 21, 2010

Published ReferencesMichiyo, Morioka; Berry, Paul. "Modern Masters of Kyoto: The Transformation of Japanese Painting Traditions," Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1999, p. 160, illus. 37.

Wong, Aida Y. The Other Kang Youwei: Calligrapher, Art Activist, and Aesthetic Reformer in Modern China. Leiden: Brill, 2016, p. 185, reproduced fig. 5.19.

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