Ducks in the Rushes

Watanabe Seitei

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The painting depicts three ducks amidst reeds. Two of the ducks have green heads, yellow bills with black on the tip, white bands around their necks, brownish-gray bodies, and blue patches on their wings. The duck on the left flies toward the left with wings outstretched and tail pointing down. The duck on the right stands with its head pointed down, tail up, and wings folded. The third duck, behind and to the right, has a light-brown body, a yellow bill, and a dark-brown head. Dark brown reeds are painted around the ducks with wet-look black brushstrokes. The background is light gray with a textured appearance; speckles of white are scattered throughout. The painting is bordered with a tan paper-like material.