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Kareki kan'a zu
枯木寒鴉図
In the later part of his life, Kyōsai became famous for his monochrome paintings of crows. Greatly admired for their skillful ink brushwork and simple but striking compositions, these works were collected by both Japanese and foreigners. This painting was exhibited in the Japanese pavilion at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 and was apparently purchased for the MFA at that time, although the gift was not formalized until much later.
Crow on a Branch
Kareki kan'a zu
枯木寒鴉図
Kawanabe Kyôsai (Japanese, 1831–1889)
Japanese
Meiji era
about 1876
Medium/Technique
Panel; ink on silk
Dimensions
Image: 127.8 x 66.8 cm (50 5/16 x 26 5/16 in.)
Overall: 147.6 x 87 x 3.8 cm (58 1/8 x 34 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.)
Overall: 147.6 x 87 x 3.8 cm (58 1/8 x 34 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.7517
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
In the later part of his life, Kyōsai became famous for his monochrome paintings of crows. Greatly admired for their skillful ink brushwork and simple but striking compositions, these works were collected by both Japanese and foreigners. This painting was exhibited in the Japanese pavilion at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 and was apparently purchased for the MFA at that time, although the gift was not formalized until much later.
Catalogue Raisonné
Kajima Foundation MFA cat. 2 (2003), ch. V (Meiji, Taishô, Shôwa), no. 87
Signed
Seisei Kyôsai
惺々狂斎
惺々狂斎
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.