Artwork preview

Eagle Attacking a Monkey

Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a painting of an eagle attacking a monkey. The eagle has its wings spread out and is positioned in the center of the painting, with its head turned downwards towards the monkey. The eagle's body is primarily dark brown with lighter brown feathers on its underside. Its talons are extended, grasping the monkey. The monkey appears to be struggling or falling, positioned below the eagle. It has a long tail and is rendered in darker tones than the background but lighter than the eagle. The background of the painting is a solid beige color, providing a neutral backdrop for the dynamic scene. A beige border surrounds the painting, with a slightly darker beige inner border that frames the artwork. In the bottom-left corner of the painting, there is some Japanese text written vertically, accompanied by a red seal or stamp. The overall composition captures a moment of intense action between the two animals.

Artwork Details

Date
1885
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
397 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette