Okumura Masanobu 菱川師宣

This spectacular composition is an early monochrome experiment with bird-and-flower subject matter. Interestingly, Masanobu signs the print "the Japanese painter Okamura Masanobu" (Yamato eshi Okamura Masanobu). By inscribing his work in this way, he is claiming his place as a "painter" in a long lineage of artists working in a Japanese painting style associated with the Heian-period court (794-1185).

Probably a print published in an album, the vigorous orchestration of lines convey the wit and spirit of both the horses depicted and the artist's hand. Masanobu, one of the most highly productive and innovative print artists of his time, created many monochrome print (sumizuri-e) series and was often his own publisher. This allowed him to create images of uncommon dash and Edo spirit.