Rooster Running

A rooster in full stride is rendered with the bold, direct line that characterized Kawano's animal subjects — a subject unexpected in his predominantly figurative output but approached with the same graphic confidence. The rooster's comb, wattles, and tail feathers provided opportunities for vivid color against a darker body, and the bird's aggressive forward motion gave the composition a dynamism absent from his more static subjects. The print reflects the sosaku-hanga principle that any subject — however humble — can be the vehicle for serious artistic expression.