A little egret is a small white heron. During the breeding season, the adults have two long nape plumes and gauzy plumes on their backs and breasts. The bird’s figure is very beautiful, so many Japanese-style painters depict it.

This is a painting of a little egret by Shouei Hoshino. While the egret’s fineness and beauty are clearly depicted, its sharp eye is very wild. The trunk, depicted with thick “sumi” (ink), accentuates the white color of the little egret. This is a rare “kachō-ga” (painting of flowers and birds) by Shouei Hoshino, who was originally known for his Buddhist paintings. His high level of painting skill is very evident in this work.