Kingfisher on Snowladden Reeds
- Date:
- 1912-1936
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Snow and night scenes traditionally command higher prices. Key value factors: Edition order (first Watanabe/Doi printing vs. posthumous reprints) is crucial. Snow scenes, night views, and bijin-ga typically command premiums. Publisher seals and artist signatures authenticate first editions.
A kingfisher perches on snow-laden reeds in this color woodblock print created between 1912 and 1936. The kingfisher, or kawasemi, is one of the most visually striking birds in Japan, its plumage combining iridescent blue-green on the back with bright orange on the breast. Against a background of snow-covered reeds, these colors would appear especially vivid, the warm orange and cool blue of the bird contrasting with the monochromatic white and grey of the winter landscape. Narazaki Eisho follows the [kacho-e](/glossary/kacho-e) tradition of pairing a specific bird with a specific plant, a convention that carries seasonal and poetic associations. The reeds suggest a waterside habitat, consistent with the kingfisher's fishing behavior, while the snow indicates midwinter, when the bird's vivid plumage stands out most dramatically against the muted landscape.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Kingfisher on Snowladden Reeds was created by Narazaki Eisho (楢崎栄昌) in 1912-1936.
Kingfisher on Snowladden Reeds depicts birds & flowers and snow scenes.
