Plum Blossoms and a Hawk

"Plum Blossoms and a Hawk" is a painting on a cedar door panel (sugito-e) located in the Kita Goen Zashiki of the Hime-miya Palace. The stamens of the plum blossoms and the feathers of the hawk are rendered with meticulous detail. The scene evokes the gentle fragrance of plum blossoms, as if their scent were drifting through the air. The artist, Katsuyama Chūkō, is believed to have belonged to the Katsuyama family, known for their service to the Imperial Court as court painters.