by Ito Sozan
$200–$1,500. Common bird prints: $200–$500. Key value factors: Ito Sozan's bird-and-flower prints are charming and affordably priced. Well-preserved examples with vivid color are most valued.
A peacock rendered in the [oban](/glossary/oban) woodblock format, its iridescent plumage presenting one of the most demanding color challenges in the printmaker's art. The peacock's tail feathers, with their eye-spot patterns of blue, green, and gold, require multiple block impressions to approximate the metallic shimmer of the living bird. Sozan tackles this subject with the technical ambition it demands, translating the bird's spectacular display into flat color areas and carved lines that capture the tail's visual complexity without attempting photographic realism. In Japanese art, peacocks are associated with beauty, dignity, and the Buddhist deity Kujaku Myoo, who rides a peacock throne. Sozan's rendering likely positions the bird in a way that shows the tail to advantage, whether fully fanned or partially displayed.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Peacock was created by Ito Sozan (伊藤宗山).
Peacock depicts birds & flowers.
