This hand-painted summer shikishi by Kawahito Katsunobu (川人勝延, born 1922, Tokushima Prefecture) captures the tranquil poetry of the season through a simple yet evocative depiction of a cicada resting on a tree branch beneath fresh green maple leaves (ao-momiji). Rendered with delicate ink washes and gentle hues, the artwork conveys both the stillness and vitality of nature in midsummer.
Kawahito’s brushwork reflects a refined Nihonga sensibility — the soft gradation of the branch, the precise form of the cicada, and the refreshing green of the maple leaves together create an atmosphere of serenity and transience. The cicada, a traditional symbol of summer, represents the fleeting yet resonant beauty of life — a perfect embodiment of the Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware (the awareness of impermanence).
Kawahito Katsunobu (川人勝延) was born in 1922 in Tokushima Prefecture and studied under Taiqing Sato (佐藤泰清). He became an active participant in major national art exhibitions such as the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition), where he received two special selections. He also served as a Japan Exhibition Commissioner, Examiner, and Nitten Member (日展会員). Kawahito was honored with the Governor’s Prize at the Japan Festival Exhibition (日本祭典) and exhibited regularly in the Nippon Kansai Exhibition (日本関西展).
