King and Dragonfly

A kingfisher (kawasemi) and a dragonfly — the small, jewel-colored bird depicted in the moment of encountering the equally brilliant insect. The kingfisher's electric blue and orange plumage was among the most vivid color combinations in Japanese nature, and its pursuit of prey along riverbanks gave it a dynamic, darting quality that distinguished it from more static bird subjects. Kimura pairs the bird with a dragonfly, both creatures of water-margins, in a composition that captures the tension of predator and prey.