Major Mitchell's Cockatoo - Yoshida Hiroshi

A delicate 1926 woodblock print by Yoshida Hiroshi, capturing a Major Mitchell's cockatoo in a moment of quiet grooming.

This woodblock print by Yoshida Hiroshi, titled Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Kurumasaka ōmu), originates from his series At the Zoological Garden (Dobutsuen), published in 1926. Yoshida, a central figure in the Shin-hanga movement, applied his extensive experience in Western-style oil painting to the traditional Japanese woodblock medium. His approach involved a meticulous collaboration with master carvers and printers to achieve subtle gradations of colour and texture that were previously difficult to attain in the medium. The composition focuses on the bird in a moment of quiet grooming. The artist captures the soft, pale plumage of the cockatoo against a neutral, textured background, which allows the striking red and yellow crest to draw the viewer's attention. The bird is perched on a simple branch, with a small metal container visible at the base, providing a sense of the captive environment. Yoshida's technical precision is evident in the delicate rendering of the feathers and the soft shading around the bird's form. Unlike the bold, flat colours of traditional ukiyo-e, this work employs a sophisticated palette and atmospheric depth, reflecting the artist's interest in naturalism and light. Yoshida Hiroshi travelled extensively, and his work often reflects a synthesis of Eastern and Western artistic sensibilities. In this series, he turned his attention to the inhabitants of the zoo, treating his subjects with the same observational rigour he applied to his famous landscape prints. The print demonstrates his ability to balance decorative composition with a realistic portrayal of the subject. The subtle grey tones of the background contrast with the warmth of the bird, creating a balanced visual experience that remains restrained and focused. This piece is a fine example of the technical refinement achieved by the Shin-hanga movement during the early twentieth century.