Owl and Red Fruits

An owl sits among branches heavy with red berries or fruit — the nocturnal bird depicted in a setting that combined the mystery of the owl's night-seeing nature with the vivid color of autumn or winter berries. Owls were associated in Japanese culture with wisdom and nocturnal knowledge, and their combination with red fruits creates a composition of strong color contrast: the dark plumage of the bird against the vivid red of the berries. Kimura renders the subject in his characteristic bold graphic manner.