狗児図|A Pair of Puppies

Two small puppies, one curled in sleep and the other alert, are captured in a moment of quiet domesticity. The artist, Kawabata Gyokushō, uses delicate ink washes on silk to bring out the softness of their fur and the subtle planes of their bodies. The sleeping puppy, a fluffy ball, nestles against its companion, whose bright eyes and perked ears suggest it's just woken up or is listening intently to something beyond our view. There's a gentle intimacy to the scene, emphasizing the simple, innocent charm of these young animals. This album leaf, created in 1887, belongs to a series of animal studies, showcasing the artist's keen observation and ability to convey character through minimal yet expressive brushwork, a hallmark of the Maruyama school tradition.