軍鶏図|Gamecocks
Katsushika Hokusai, dated 1838
About this artwork
Katsushika Hokus's *Gamecocks* (軍鶏図), dated 1838, the fierce spirit of two roosters in a dynamic hanging scroll painted with ink and color on. Created late in the artist's prolific career—he was already famous for ukiyo-e woodblock prints like *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*— work showcases Hokusai's mastery traditional Japanese painting techniques. The medium of silk allowed for vibrant colors and fluid ink washes, emphasizing the birds' muscular forms, alert postures, and intense gazes, evoking the drama of cockfighting, a popular Edo-period pastime. Produced during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing, the scroll reflects Hokusai's fascination with nature and everyday life. Roosters symbolized vigilance, courage, and masculinity in Japanese culture, often depicted in art to convey power and rivalry. As a hanging scroll, it was designed for ceremonial display in homes or temples, unrolled to reveal its full 21¾ × 33⅞-inch image, inviting viewers to contemplate its energy up close. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art department, thanks to the Charles Stewart Smith Collection (gifted in 1914), *Gamecocks* exemplifies Hokusai's versatility beyond prints, blending precision with expressive vitality for enduring appeal.