Duck in Flight - Shikibu Terutada

A delicate ink painting of a duck in flight, rendered in the traditional Japanese fan format by Shikibu Terutada.

This work by Shikibu Terutada, an artist active during the mid-sixteenth century, presents a duck captured in mid-flight. The composition is executed in the fan format, a popular medium for ink painting in Japan during the Muromachi period. The artist employs a restrained palette, relying on the fluid application of ink to define the bird's form and the surrounding grasses. The brushwork is precise, reflecting the influence of Chinese ink painting traditions that were studied by Japanese artists of the era.

The duck is depicted with a sense of motion, its wings extended against a neutral, warm-toned background. The grasses below are rendered with quick, calligraphic strokes, suggesting a marshy environment without providing excessive detail. This approach allows the viewer to focus on the silhouette and posture of the bird. The artist's seal is visible in the lower right, providing a clear attribution for the piece.

Shikibu Terutada is known for his contributions to the Kanga style, which favoured monochrome ink wash techniques. This fan painting demonstrates the economy of line and focus on natural subjects that defined the aesthetic preferences of the time. The work is mounted on a patterned textile border, which complements the muted tones of the central painting. The overall effect is one of quiet observation, typical of the ink painting tradition where the artist seeks to capture the essence of the subject through minimal means. This print reproduces the original ink and paper textures, maintaining the integrity of the artist's brushwork and the subtle tonal variations present in the original composition.