A spoonbill and water-grass

School of Kano Tan'yu 狩野探幽 (1602-1674) · 17th century

A few light touches of the brush represent water and marsh grasses, while a pale ink wash defines the form of the bird and contrasts with its white plumage. From his broad knowledge of Chinese and Japanese painting styles and subjects, Tan’yu developed a distinctive new aesthetic that was a unique synthesis of the two artistic traditions. Characteristics of Tan’yu’s influential style appear in this painting, particularly in the use of ink to suggest rather than to describe physical form.