Golden Pheasant (Kinkeicho) c. 1720 - 1725

This is Okumura Masanobu’s “Golden Pheasant,” a woodblock print made in Japan in the 18th century. The composition is dominated by the titular bird, perched on a flowering branch. Its plumage is rendered with fine detail, showcasing a pattern of olive, gold, and russet hues. The pheasant is depicted with its head turned downwards. Its gaze directs our focus along the descending curve of the branch, eventually settling on the stream below. The print is organized around a series of diagonals which intersect. The lines of the branch are mirrored in the flow of water, creating a sense of visual harmony. Masanobu expertly balances the realism of the bird with the decorative quality of the flora. The image operates as a signifier of the natural world, while also exploring the symbolic and aesthetic properties of line, color, and form. It's an artifact of cultural expression, and a meditation on the dialectic between representation and abstraction.