Long-Tailed Cock — 動植物多宝塔

Part of the 動植物多宝塔 series cataloguing animals and plants, this print presents a long-tailed cock — most probably the Onagadori, a ceremonially significant Japanese breed selectively cultivated for tail feathers that can extend several meters. Hasui's treatment would focus on the structural elegance of the bird's plumage: the iridescent black and green of the hackle feathers, the warm russet of the saddle, and the extraordinary sweep of the sickle tail. The composition arranges the bird's silhouette against a minimal or graduated ground, allowing the feather forms to read clearly against a contrasting background. Printed via the traditional nishiki-e multi-block color woodblock method, this kacho-e print required precise registration across multiple blocks to achieve the fine linework that distinguishes individual feathers. The series situates Hasui's work within the broader shin-hanga interest in reviving classical Japanese print genres beyond the landscape tradition.