Who painted 三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight?

三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight was painted by Shibata Zeshin in 19th century.

Where can I see 三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight?

三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight?

三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight is associated with Nihonga.

三羽黒鳥図|Three Crows in Flight by Shibata Zeshin (19th century)

Accession no.: 51.137.3
Credit line: Purchase, Gifts, Bequests, and Funds from various donors, by exchange, 1951

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The specific iconography and symbolic meaning of these three crows are not detailed in the available sources, which only identify the depicted figures as birds.

The work depicts three crows in flight, rendered in ink on silk. As a landscape painting, the subject focuses on the birds as the primary visual element. The specific iconography and symbolic meaning of these three crows are not detailed in the available sources, which only identify the depicted figures as birds. Consequently, the work represents a scene of avian movement within a landscape context.

Technique & Style

Three Crows in Flight is executed as a hanging scroll in ink on silk, a traditional East Asian format suited to the fluid, calligraphic potential of the medium. The work belongs to the landscape genre, with birds as its depicted subject. Ink on silk allows for nuanced tonal gradations and spontaneous brushwork, qualities that Shibata Zeshin exploited to convey the dynamism of crows in motion.

The choice of silk rather than paper as a support suggests a refined, durable surface that responds to both wet and dry brush techniques. The 1849 date places this work in Zeshin's early maturity, a period in which he was synthesizing established Japanese painting methods with his own developing sensibility.

History & Provenance

Created in 1849, Three Crows in Flight is a hanging scroll executed in ink on silk by the artist Shibata Zeshin. The work was produced in Japan and depicts three birds in motion. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The hanging scroll Three Crows in Flight is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created by Shibata Zeshin in 1849, the work is cataloged within the museum's holdings of Japanese paintings. The source material confirms the institution as the current location but does not provide a specific accession or inventory number for this piece. Additionally, the available records do not document any past or upcoming exhibitions featuring this specific artwork.

Context

Shibata Zeshin's 1849 hanging scroll Three Crows in Flight portrays birds in mid-flight against a minimalist background, reflecting his mastery of traditional Japanese ink techniques within the evolving Meiji-era art market. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, underscoring its significance in Western collections of Japanese art. Scholarship highlights Zeshin's role in bridging Edo-period aesthetics with modernist experimentation, particularly through his innovative use of unconventional materials and subjects in works like Three Crows in Flight.

Overview

Three Crows in Flight is a hanging scroll executed in 1849 by Shibata Zeshin, a master of lacquer and painting in mid-19th-century Japan. The work depicts three black crows twisting dynamically against a pale, unadorned silk background. Zeshin employs bold, rapid ink strokes to define the birds' wings and feathers, creating a sense of immediate motion and vitality.

The composition relies on the stark contrast between the dark, fluid forms of the crows and the expansive negative space of the sky, emphasizing their aerial agility. Created during a period of significant cultural transition as Japan began opening to Western influence, the piece reflects Zeshin's ability to synthesize traditional Japanese brushwork with a fresh, observational approach to nature. While Zeshin is perhaps best known for his lacquerware, this painting demonstrates his versatility and mastery of ink on silk.

The work stands as a notable example of his artistic output during the late Edo period, showcasing his skill in capturing the essence of living creatures through economical yet expressive line work.