Miyamoto Musashi "Shrike on a Withered Branch"

The masterpiece, painted by the dual-sword wielding swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, has been woven into a textile artwork and prepared as a hanging scroll. At first glance, it appears to be a tranquil scene, but viewed through the eyes of a martial artist who also honed his skills in calligraphy and painting as a means to refine his martial techniques, it captures the tension of the moment, where the shrike stares sharply without flinching, and the insect slowly crawls up the branch.

This ink painting utilizes both the "mokkotsu-ho" (a technique of blurring the edges, allowing the forms to be defined by the expansive use of ink and color) and "genpitsu-ho" (reducing the number of brushstrokes) techniques, expressing three-dimensionality solely through variations in ink intensity and by simplifying forms to capture their essence. Despite being rendered entirely in black, the nuances of ink density and the flow of the brush contribute to the composition, resulting in an exceptionally delicate piece. Through the combination of just four colors of yarns, the artisans of Nishijin-ori have skillfully replicated the delicate gradations of ink,  incorporating techniques such as smudging, blurring, and blending.

Size: H. approx. 185.0cm (72.8 in.)  W. approx. 54.0cm (21.3 in.)