Death of a Bird is a poignant meditation on mortality, rendered with the graphic directness that characterizes Sekino's best work. The emotional weight of the subject sets it apart from his more lighthearted animal prints. Prices range from $200-$600, with the contemplative theme appealing to serious collectors.
"Death of a Bird" is a sosaku-hanga nature study by Jun'ichiro Sekino, created during the Showa period. This work belongs to the kacho-e (bird-and-flower) tradition, one of the most celebrated genres in Japanese art.
Jun'ichiro Sekino brings characteristic sensitivity to this naturalistic subject, combining precise observation with poetic atmosphere. The composition balances the living subjects with their environment, creating a scene that feels both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant.
The technical execution reveals the sophisticated printmaking tradition behind this image — from the precise registration of multiple color blocks to the subtle gradations that give depth and luminosity to the natural subjects.
This print represents Jun'ichiro Sekino's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Showa period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Death of a Bird was created by Jun'ichiro Sekino (関野準一郎) in 1956.
Death of a Bird uses Nishiki-e, Moku-hanga, and Kento, on woodblock print.
Death of a Bird depicts birds & flowers.
