Based on Isoda Koryūsai’s *White Heron and Crow in the Snow*—Adachi reprint

Amid a light snowfall, a white heron and a black crow sit side by side on the branches of a flowering tree. Their contrasting plumage creates a striking interplay of contrasts, softened by the delicate hues of the sky and the touches of red from the camellias. The snow-covered branches and foliage framing the scene lend the whole composition a distinctly Japanese elegance.
This composition is inspired by a work by Isoda Koryūsai, an 18th-century master of ukiyo-e, particularly renowned for his refined depictions of nature. It belongs to the kachō-ga genre—prints of flowers and birds—in which the artist displays remarkable decorative sensibility. The delicacy of the plumage, the precision of the branches, and the balance between the two birds lend this winter scene a presence that is both graphic and poetic.
About This Edition
This copy is a Japanese woodblock reprint from the Adachi Studio (Adachi Hanga Kenkyūjo), a publishing house founded in Tokyo in 1928 and recognized for its work in preserving traditional Japanese engraving and printing techniques. Its reprints are produced using traditional craftsmanship that brings together specialized engravers and printers, in keeping with the aesthetic of the great masters of ukiyo-e.
The copy presented here stands out for the freshness of its color palette and the finesse of its printing. The deep black of the raven contrasts with the delicate shades of the heron, while the red camellias subtly enliven this winter scene. The print bears a dry seal in the lower right corner attributed to the Adachi workshop. The margins are well-preserved, and the print as a whole retains a beautiful harmony of colors and a meticulously executed impression.
Artist of the original: Isoda Koryūsai (1735–1790)
Title: White Heron and Crow in the Snow
Genre: Kachō-ga (flowers and birds)
Technique: Japanese woodblock print, polychrome print
Publisher for this reprint: ADACHI, 20th century
Period of the original work: 18th century, Edo period
Format: Vertical chūban
Dimensions: 27 × 20 cm
Condition: In excellent condition, with fresh colors, well-preserved details, and intact margins.
Origin: Japan
About the Artist
Isoda Koryūsai (1735–1790) was one of the leading figures of 18th-century ukiyo-e. Influenced early in his career by Suzuki Harunobu, he gradually developed a personal style, appreciated for the elegance of his compositions and the finesse of his drawing. In addition to his famous depictions of female beauties, he created remarkable prints of flowers and birds, in which his careful observation of nature is paired with great poetic sensitivity.
Museum References
Koryūsai’s original composition is part of the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was notably featured in the exhibition *Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e from the Victoria and Albert Museum*, held at the Kobe City Museum in 2008, under the title *Crow and Heron in the Snow*.

Ref: 0MTC9O65XU