Autumn Millet and Sparrows

Why it's great

Sparrows cling to a bending stalk of autumn millet, painted with great care for every feather and seed. Itō Jakuchū was an eccentric Japanese painter in Kyoto who owned a vegetable shop and raised chickens to study them. He is now celebrated as one of Japan's greatest painters of animals. It's a delightful close-up of nature.

👀 Look closer!

How many sparrows can you find? Are any of them hiding?

Where to see it

📍 Museum of the Imperial CollectionsTokyo, Japan

Open in Maps ↗

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 876 × 1,500 px · 1.3 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Itō Jakuchū

1716–1800 · born in Nishiki Market · died in Sekihō-ji Temple

Itō Jakuchū was born in Kyoto, Japan, the son of a vegetable seller. He ran the family shop for years before devoting himself to painting, and kept chickens in his garden so he could study them. His colorful and detailed pictures of birds, plants and animals are among the most beloved in Japan. He died in 1800.