Cactus and Domestic Fowls by Itō Jakuchū

Cactus and Domestic Fowls, by Itō Jakuchū

Cactus and Domestic Fowls is a later work of Itō Jakuchū (1716–1800). The chickens on the 6th screen are making a triangle, which is a stable composition. But the deformed cactus and chicken’s tail feathers shake the composition. A free-looking chicken is one of the themes of ink painting, but he added bright colors and delicate depictions to it.  He created a different beauty than Tawaraya Sōtatsu (1570-1643) and Ogata Kōrin’s (1658-1716) gold folding screens. In contrast to that series, they are all domestic chickens. It may represent his values for seeing the world had changed. 

Title: Cactus and Domestic Fowls

Size: 177.2cm×92.2cm

Author: Itō Jakuchū (1716–1800)

Year: 1789

Own:Saifukuji Temple

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