Japanese Print "Horned Owl on Flowering Magnolia Branch (Kobushi Ni Komimi-Dzuku)" by Kubo Shunman
Artist:Kubo Shunman
Title:Horned Owl on Flowering Magnolia Branch (Kobushi Ni Komimi-Dzuku)
Date:about 1815
Details:More information...
Source:Worcester Art Museum
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Description:
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.
