Horned Owl on Flowering Magnolia Branch (Kobushi Ni Komimi-Dzuku)

Artist/Culture Kubo Shunman (Japanese, 1757–1820)

Dateabout 1815

(not assigned)Japan, Asia

Mediumwoodblock print

Dimensions20 x 18.1 cm (7 7/8 x 7 1/8 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection

Terms

Japanese Print

Object number1901.59.1952

Descriptionsurimono
Label TextA horned owl sits on a branch covered with embossed, lightly colored magnolias in bloom. The two accompanying poems at the top right play with the words for horned owl (mimizuku) and magnolia kobus (kobushi). Mimizuku means to “listen closely” and “with ears,” the latter referring to the owl’s plumicorns, tufts of hair that look like ears, and the origin of the bird’s name in Japanese. Kobushi is both the name of the magnolia flower and a homophone for “fist,” pointing to the strong claws that grasp the branch.

On View

Not on view