Autumn Scene

Preparatory sketch in black ink and colour pigment showing an owl perched on a branch of a maple tree, surrounded by a multitude of small birds. The elements of this design are traditional, but the horizontal orientation is relatively unusual within Katei’s compositions. Particularly when submitting works to international expositions, Japanese painters had begun to adopt this approach, to fit in with Western expectations. The crossed maple trees and curving stream flowing towards us give the image a sense of depth.