Horned Owl on Flowering Branch
Horned Owl on Flowering Branch

Currently not on view

Horned Owl on Flowering Branch

Kubo Shunman 窪俊満, 1757–1820
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
x1942-304
A 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.

Information

Title
Horned Owl on Flowering Branch
Maker
Kubo Shunman 窪俊満
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
sheet trimmed to block: 20.7 x 18.5 cm. (8 1/8 x 7 5/16 in.) mount: 48.7 x 36.2 cm. (19 3/16 x 14 1/4 in.) mat: 56 x 40.7 cm. (22 1/16 x 16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Carl Otto von Kienbusch
Object Number
x1942-304
Place Made

Asia, Japan

Culture
Japanese
Period
Edo (Japanese period)
Type
woodblock prints, prints, japanese printmaking styles, surimono
Materials
ink, paper, surimono, color
Techniques
woodcut (process)
Subject
owls, flowers (plants), trees

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