Sand Dune

Born (1877) and raised in Kyoto, Nishimura Go’un studied under Kishi Chikudō and Takeuchi Seihō. He became known for his masterful animal paintings. After his health failed during the Taishō era (1912–1926), he is said to have turned his hand mainly to small paintings. This painting, however, shown in the prestigious 1935 Sansankai exhibition held in Takashimaya department store, is a large and powerful work. A sandy beach fringing Lake Biwa inspired this work. Perhaps hoping to take advantage of the fishermen's absence to pluck up a fish, a lone black kite perches on a large fish basket. Even though someone may return at any moment, the black kite does not seem to be at all war. Its calm expression does not show the usual ferocity of a bird of prey. This distinctive portrayal is typical of Go’un. A master of animal paintings, he lovingly observed the black kites and other animals he kept at home.