Kawanabe Kyōsai Print, Crow on a Bamboo Branch
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
Couldn't load pickup availability
Kawanabe Kyōsai Print, Crow on a Bamboo Branch
Kawanabe Kyōsai Print, Crow Paintings
Kawanabe Kyōsai, a renowned Japanese painter of the late Edo and Meiji periods, created a compelling series of paintings featuring crows. These works stand out for their detailed realism, blended with expressive brushstrokes, capturing the spirit and intelligence of these birds. Kyōsai, often regarded as a master of ukiyo-e and a pioneer of nihonga (Japanese-style painting), was deeply inspired by nature and folklore, and the crow—a symbol of both good and bad omens in Japanese culture—became a recurring motif in his work.
In these crow paintings, Kyōsai’s use of bold, dynamic ink washes and careful attention to the birds' sharp eyes and sleek feathers creates a powerful sense of movement and life. His brushwork captures not just the form of the crow but its elusive, mysterious character. The paintings often depict crows mid-flight, perching on branches, or in contemplative poses, giving them an almost human-like dignity. Through his crow series, Kyōsai masterfully blends realism with an ethereal quality, presenting the bird as a creature of both natural beauty and symbolic depth, reflecting the complexity of life and death in nature. These paintings remain celebrated for their vitality and spiritual resonance.
Kawanabe Kyōsai - The Artist
Living through the Edo period to the Meiji period, Kyōsai witnessed Japan transform itself from a feudal country into a modern state. Born at Koga, he was the son of a samurai. His first aesthetic shock was at the age of nine when he picked up a human head apart from a corpse in the Kanda river. After working for a short time as a boy with Utagawa Kuniyoshi, he received his artistic training in the Kanō school, but soon abandoned the formal traditions for the greater freedom of the popular school. During the political ferment which produced and followed the revolution of 1867, Kyōsai attained a reputation as a caricaturist. His very long painting on makimono "The battle of the farts" may be seen as a caricature of this ferment. He was arrested three times and imprisoned by the authorities of the shogunate. Soon after the assumption of effective power by the Emperor, a great congress of painters and men of letters was held at which Kyōsai was present. He again expressed his opinion of the new movement in a caricature, which had a great popular success, but also brought him into the hands of the police this time of the opposite party.
Kyōsai is considered by many to be the greatest successor of Hokusai (of whom, however, he was not a pupil), as well as the first political caricaturist of Japan. His work mirrored his life in its wild and undisciplined nature, and occasionally reflected his love of drink. Although he did not possess Hokusai's dignity, power or reticence, he compensated with a fantastic exuberance, which always lent interest to his technically excellent draughtsmanship.
He created what is considered to be the first manga magazine in 1874: Eshinbun Nipponchi, with Kanagaki Robun. The magazine was heavily influenced by Japan Punch, founded in 1862 by Charles Wirgman, a British cartoonist. Eshinbun Nipponchi had a very simple style of drawings and did not become popular with many people, and ended after just three issues.
In addition to his caricatures, Kyōsai painted a large number of pictures and sketches, often choosing subjects from the folklore of his country, Nô drama, nature and religion, for example The Temptation of Shaka Niorai or The goddess Kwannon on a dragon (on kakejiku frame) A fine collection of these works is preserved in the British Museum; and there are also good examples in the National Art Library at South Kensington and the Guimet Museum at Paris. The Kawanabe Kyōsai Memorial Museum was established in 1977, located at Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
And as a stretched canvas panel (heavy fine art canvas stretched over 1.5 inch deep edge solid wood frame)
All prints are made using archival art stocks and UV pigment inks to give up to 200 years life. Prints are sold unframed and unmounted.
All orders for unframed fine art prints and original paintings are dispatched within 2 working days of receipt of payment.
Orders for custom framed prints are dispatched within 4 working days.
All orders are fully tracked from dispatch to delivery at your home or business.
All print and original painting orders are fully insured against loss or damage in transit. We refund or replace any damaged or lost orders.
Buy with confidence - read what our satisfied customers have to say - Reviews
Fine art papers are printed without any additional white border Please let us know at the time of ordering if you would like a small additional white border.
Rolled canvas options have an additional white border of approximately 2.5 inches (7cm) on all 4 sides to aid stretching.
Ready to hang canvas panels are stretched on 1.5 inch deep solid pine frames from sustainable forestry sources. The image is mirrored on all 4 sides to give an aesthetically pleasing finish.
Why not have us gift wrap your order and attach a personalised message to the recipient. Available for all orders. Each order is hand wrapped in high quality gift wrap with meatllic ribbon and bow. Your personalised message is printed on a card which is included with your order.
Have your hand wrapped gift delivered directly to the recipient.
Full tracking and insurance included with every order.
Please note design may vary depending upon availability
Just purchase the gift wrap option HERE
We have a wide range of frames in standard sizes and we also make custom size frames.
To order a framed print:
1. select the print size you would like along with the print materials (matte paper, fine art paper).
2. Add your print choice to the basket.
3. Choose from our range of frames
4. Select the same size as the print you have added to your basket. If the frame size you want is not listed please contact us
5. Choose from the mount or no-mount option
6. Add your frame choice to the basket
7. Proceed to checkout.
Why Choose GalleryThane?
- Printed and framed in-house
- Free UK delivery
- Fast international delivery
- Tracking and insurance included in every order
- Fast 1-3 day dispatch
- Gift wrapping service available
- Gallery quality materials
- Sustainable, eco-friendly packaging
- Great customer support
What makes our Prints and Canvas Panels so special
Latest Giclee Printing Technology
We have invested in the latest wide format print technology to produce museum quality giclee prints utilising the highest quality pigment inks to give outstanding colour reproduction.
Museum Quality Archival Fine Art Papers
We print on the finest quality fine art papers with textured, smooth and lustre finishes for prints which last a lifetime.
From aceo miniatures to 40x80 inch large format, every print has our lifetime quality guaranteee.
Solid Wood Frames, Cotton Canvas
All of the wood for our canvas panels and frames is responsibly sourced from manages forests. Our cotton canvas is completely seedless for the highest quality reproduction possible.
Have Your Gift Wrapped
