Parrot on a Pine Branch

Regarded as exotic birds, parrots were associated with distant lands and the luxury and sophistication of imported goods. Their unusual appearance and brilliant plumage made them especially appealing subjects for paintings and prints during the Edo period, when depictions of exotic birds often reflected an enduring interest in the natural world beyond Japan.
Early impressions of this print are known with the censer seal and publisher’s seal placed beneath the inscription, while in later impressions the seals were moved to the side of the inscription. Examples are also known in which both the censer seal and publisher’s seal are absent, as in the present impression.