Cranes on Branch of Snow-covered Pine

Katsushika Hokusai Cranes on Branch of Snow-covered Pine, late 1820s Woodblock print; ink and color on paper 20 3/8 x 9 1/8 in. (51.8 x 23.2 cm)

This print depicts the snow-dusted branch of a pine tree on which two cranes are perched, caught in the midst of their preening. In Japan, the pine and the crane each symbolize longevity.
At age 75, Hokusai felt he had “finally learned something of the true quality of birds… and the vital nature of grasses and trees”. Though created before then, this image demonstrates the intensity with which Hokusai was employing natural observation in order to enhance the details in his art. Itō Jakuchū, another prominent Japanese eccentric, also preferred to create from a combination of natural observation and artistic imagination. From the particular mannerisms of the birds to the intricacy of the feathers and pine needles, it is clear this piece is the result of prolonged study and an earnest desire to depict things as they truly are, while enhancing their beauty through artistic license.