Owl and Two Swallows

This painting by Toyohiro shows two swallows encircling a complex and detailed owl sitting on a tree branch. The branch itself is painted with broad strokes in order to allow it to be seen and play a part in the scene, but much like a camera it is made to seem out of focus. This allows the viewer to to focus entirely on the rest of the scene while understanding the still owl and the gliding swallows. This owl's intricate detail against the blurry branch allows the bird to be brought into the forefront view of the piece. The malicious and dramatic gaze of the owl catches the viewer's attention, and after parting from the eyes of the owl, the swallow on the upper left presents itself as a quick break from the intensity of the piece.