Parrot on a branch of magnolia

A kacho-e pairing a parrot with magnolia blossoms, this print brings together two subjects associated with beauty and exotic appeal in the Japanese woodblock tradition. The magnolia's large, cup-shaped flowers — printed in creamy white or blush tones from carved color blocks — form a foil for the vivid plumage of the parrot, whose greens, reds, and yellows would have been achieved through multiple overprinted color layers. The bird is likely shown perched on a branch, alert and turned at an angle that displays its profile and the full spread of its tail feathers. Magnolia compositions exploit the drama of blossoms emerging from bare winter branches, and the branch structure itself provides the compositional armature from which both bird and flower depend. This type of print draws on the kacho-e conventions established by artists such as Ohara Koson.