Hawk on a Pine

Kano Yukinobu 狩野之信

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A keen-eyed hawk perches on a branch of a pine tree, peering up at the twisting branches overhead. Images of birds of prey like the hawk and the eagle, representing strength and endurance, along with symbols of longevity such as the evergreen pine, were popular among members of the military class and were often commissioned from members of the newly influential Kano school. Yukinobu and other Kano artists worked in a style that transformed the Chinese-influenced and Zen-inspired ink painting that had flourished during the preceding two centuries into a mode that appealed to warlord patrons and Buddhist clergy alike.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art