Cherry Tree and Pheasant

A pheasant with a long, banded tail and blue-green and gold plumage bends its head toward the ground beside the mossy trunk of a cherry tree in blossom, its white flowers and green leaves spreading across the upper right against a pale cream sky. Rounded green hills roll behind the bird, with tufts of grass at its feet and a column of calligraphic text at upper right. The palette is soft green, gold, indigo, and cream, giving the chuban-format scene a quiet, still mood. Komatsuya Hyakki, 1765; color woodblock print.