Nocturnal subjects like Bird In The Night showcase Kasamatsu's mastery of atmospheric mood, a hallmark of his Watanabe-era work. Night scenes are particularly sought after by collectors, and this composition typically trades between $1,000-$3,000 for lifetime editions. The interplay of moonlight and darkness required exceptional skill from the Watanabe workshop printers.
A solitary bird perches or moves through deep nighttime darkness, rendered with the economy that nocturnal subjects demand: the details that daylight would reveal are here compressed into silhouette, the darkness itself becoming the dominant visual element. Kasamatsu's night scenes consistently demonstrate his ability to find interest in the limited chromatic range of darkness — the way a single pale shape reads against a dark ground with concentrated force. The "B" designation suggests this was one of multiple versions or impressions of the subject.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Bird in the Night - B was created by Shiro Kasamatsu (笠松紫浪).
Bird in the Night - B uses Bokashi, Nishiki-e, and Moku-hanga, on woodblock print.
Bird in the Night - B was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Bird in the Night - B depicts birds & flowers and night scenes.
