High definition digital reproductions
- featured artworks from Kyoto

Important Cultural Property: Hawks in Pine Trees
Attributed to Kano ha (Kano School)
Owned by Nijyo Castle
Era: Edo Period, 17C
Style: Three screens, color on gold paper
Size: 207.0*478.5cm (as a set of three screens)
[credit] (c) Nijyo Castle DA

Hawks in Pine Trees: Important Cultural Property
This piece is placed on the south side of the Fourth Room. A huge pine tree is depicted diagonally with a glaring goshawk. This figure overwhelms the spectator with its dynamic composition. Between the clouds in the background, one can see a powerful waterfall with abundance of water. The water eventually flows horizontally to the left and right toward the west and east side of the room, uniting the entire painting as a single piece.

About the Artists:
The Kano School, the largest in the history of Japanese art, was in the center of the art scene for 400 years from the 15th century (the Muromachi Period) through the 19th century (end of the Edo Period). They served as art professionals for Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Shogun Tokugawa, and placed themselves at the center of the art scene by associating with powerful figures of the time. They strongly influenced the Japanese art scene as a professional painting group that dealt with a variety of genres: from wall paintings for Emperor’s residences, castles, and large scale temples, to industrial art such as decorative fans.