A scroll depicting cockerel and hen - Kishi Ganku (Japanese, 1749 – 1839)

Kishi Ganku's A Japanese Scroll Depicting a Cockerel and Hen (1788) is a masterful example of Edo-period animal painting, showcasing the artist's refined ink-wash technique and keen observation of nature. The scroll presents a harmonious composition of domestic fowl - a proud cockerel with meticulously rendered plumage stands alert beside a demure hen, their contrasting postures creating a dynamic balance. Ganku's skilled brushwork captures the delicate textures of feathers through subtle gradations of ink, while the minimalist background focuses attention on the birds' elegant forms. The work exemplifies the kachō-ga (bird-and-flower) tradition, blending naturalistic detail with poetic symbolism - the pair representing marital harmony and prosperity in Japanese culture. Painted with precise, expressive strokes characteristic of Ganku's mature style, this scroll demonstrates the artist's ability to imbue everyday subjects with quiet dignity. A superb representation of late 18th-century Japanese literati aesthetics, it appeals to collectors of Edo-period ink painting and those who appreciate the understated beauty of avian subjects in East Asian art. The scroll's vertical format and fluid composition guide the viewer's eye through the graceful interplay of forms, making it both a visual delight and a meditation on nature's simple elegance.