Tethered Hawks - Soga Chokuan

A six-panel folding screen depicting hawks perched on wooden stands, rendered in ink and colour on a gold-leaf ground by Soga Chokuan.

Tethered Hawks is a six-panel folding screen attributed to Soga Chokuan, a painter active during the Momoyama period in Japan. The work displays a series of raptors perched upon wooden stands, each secured by cords of varying colours. The composition relies on the contrast between the muted, earthy tones of the birds and the expansive, gold-leaf background typical of the era. Chokuan demonstrates a precise approach to the anatomy of the hawks, capturing their alert postures and the texture of their plumage through controlled brushwork.

The screen functions as a display of status and martial prowess. In the culture of the time, the falcon was a symbol of the samurai class, representing both the hunt and the disciplined nature of the warrior. The birds are arranged across the panels in a rhythmic sequence, yet each maintains a distinct character. Some look forward with sharp focus, while others preen or shift their weight on the wooden perches. The inclusion of the colourful tethering ropes adds a decorative element to the otherwise austere depiction of the birds.

Soga Chokuan was known for his ability to combine the bold, expressive ink traditions of the Muromachi period with the decorative requirements of the Momoyama age. This screen reflects that transition. The negative space provided by the gold-leaf ground allows the figures to occupy the foreground with clarity. The work is a study in balance, where the repetition of the perches creates a sense of order, while the individual movements of the hawks provide variety. The artist avoids unnecessary detail, focusing instead on the silhouette and the essential form of the raptors. This piece remains a representative example of the Soga school, which favoured a direct and vigorous style of ink painting.