Brown-Eared Bulbul (Hiyodori) on a Branch of Plum - Kano Shōei

A classic kacho-ga hanging scroll by Kano Shōei, depicting a brown-eared bulbul perched on a flowering plum branch in ink and colour on silk.

This work by Kano Shōei, a member of the influential Kano school of painters, exemplifies the kacho-ga tradition. The composition features a brown-eared bulbul, or hiyodori, perched upon a gnarled plum branch. The bird is captured in a moment of vocalisation, its beak slightly open, providing a sense of immediacy to the scene. The plum blossoms, rendered with delicate touches of colour, suggest the arrival of early spring, a common theme in Japanese ink painting.

The Kano school was known for its ability to balance the bold, expressive brushwork of Chinese ink traditions with the decorative sensibilities favoured by the Japanese aristocracy and military elite. In this piece, the artist employs a restrained palette, allowing the texture of the silk to contribute to the overall tone of the work. The branch is depicted with firm, calligraphic strokes that contrast with the softer, more detailed rendering of the bird's plumage. The inclusion of bamboo leaves at the base of the branch adds a secondary botanical element, creating a balanced arrangement that draws the eye across the vertical format of the hanging scroll.

Kano Shōei, the son of Kano Motonobu, maintained the technical standards of his family while adapting to the shifting aesthetic demands of the sixteenth century. His work often reflects a synthesis of observation and stylisation. The negative space surrounding the subject is used to suggest an atmosphere of quietude, typical of the period's focus on nature as a subject for contemplation. This print captures the subtle gradations of ink and the precise application of colour found in the original silk painting, preserving the balance between the organic form of the bird and the structured growth of the plum tree.