Album of Hawks and Calligraphy 1636 - 1713

This is an album of paintings and calligraphy by Kano Tsunenobu, created sometime in the late 17th to early 18th century. Tsunenobu lived during the Edo period, a time when the arts flourished under a strict social hierarchy. This image depicts a hawk, a symbol of power and status, particularly for the ruling samurai class. The hawk, with its piercing gaze and outstretched talons, embodies a certain kind of masculine authority. But look closer, and you might notice the vulnerability of the prey beneath its grasp. The dynamic between predator and prey reflects the social dynamics of the Edo period, where power was concentrated in the hands of a few, while others were left vulnerable. Tsunenobu’s work both maintains traditional representations and offers us an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of power and the emotional dimensions of dominance and submission.