Heron and Reeds [left of a pair of Swallow and Heron] late 17th-early 18th century

This hanging scroll, Heron and Reeds, was created by Kano Tsunenobu in Japan, using ink and color on paper. The ethereal quality of this painting comes from the absorbent nature of the paper, which allows the ink to bleed and create soft, diffused forms. Notice how Tsunenobu used varied brushstrokes to define the textures of the heron's feathers and the reeds. The precision of the lines suggests the artist's mastery of brush control, a skill honed through years of disciplined practice within the Kano school, a dominant force in Japanese painting for centuries. The Kano school was known for its standardized curriculum and hierarchical structure, which meant that artists, or artisans, often worked collaboratively on large-scale projects. Though it is not known if this work was made entirely by Tsunenobu himself, we can appreciate the way in which the artist used traditional materials and techniques to depict the natural world. Thinking about the way this artwork was made helps us to move beyond conventional assumptions about the divide between art and craft.