Two pigeons on winter pine trees | Yanagisawa Satoyasu (Kien) 柳沢里恭(柳沢淇園) | 1706-1758

Yanagisawa Kien was the son of a prominent scholar of Chinese philosophy and literature and was himself very knowledgeable in various aspects of Chinese culture. Therefore, it is not surprising that as a painter he was strongly influenced by the art of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties. He is considered one of the first great Nanga painters (i.e., Japanese painting in the Chinese style).

Kien is always meticulous in his expression, as he also takes Japanese aesthetic aspects into account. In this winter scene, the formulaic depiction of the pine trees with their wet snow crowns is entirely in the style of the Rinpa school. Its decorative approach, which often maintains a somewhat capricious distance from realism, contrasts with the exceptionally fine observation of the two doves. The male's plumage displays as many color nuances as nature bestows upon doves.

However, the treatment of the open space has a distinctly Chinese feel. While some areas are not covered by the spherical pine needle pattern, one could imagine that in a completely Japanese approach to the subject, a poignant "dream sky of emptiness" would open above the two sleeping doves, intensifying the feeling of the animals huddling together due to the vastness of the open space.