Sketch Page with Birds and Spider

Katsushika Hokusai

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image depicts a sketch on aged paper featuring a spider and two birds. The paper background is off-white with visible wrinkles, creases, and brown spots scattered throughout. The drawings are rendered in brown ink or pencil. On the left side, a spider with eight legs and a distinct body shape is drawn. To the right of the spider, a small, simple face with a nose and mouth is sketched in grey. Two bird drawings are positioned to the right; both appear to be in mid-flight. The bird on the left has its wings spread and tail feathers pointed upwards, while the bird on the right, partially cropped, also shows its wings but with a more curved body and beak pointing downwards. The overall composition suggests a casual, study-like sketch page.