a Philosopher

A Philosopher — a figure subject that sits somewhat apart from Kimura's characteristic animal and celestial subjects, depicting a human (or perhaps a bird or animal in an anthropomorphized philosophical pose) in a state of contemplative absorption. The philosopher's capacity for sustained, focused thought was a subject that East Asian artists had explored through the depiction of scholars, sages, and monks in meditative poses. Kimura's contemporary treatment may depict an actual philosopher or an abstract quality of philosophical attention.