“Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas”

“Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas” was drawn in 1759. At that time, Itō Jakuchū (1716-1800) left off his businesses and begun to concentrate on painting when he was in the forties. Based on observation in his life, he drew the world of imagination with a delicate brushwork.

Using a first-class subject matter for a painting in the 18th century abundantly, the paint shows a rooster and a hen under the hydrangeas, by the azaleas and the roses. Since it has been kept in good condition, it remains beautiful even after more than 200 years, so viewers can enjoy it even without prior knowledge. The color of the male chicken on the left side is very vivid that is a contrast to the quiet tone for the female on the right side. It makes the rooster’s existence stand out from the screen.