The characteristic decorative quality of Chikutō"s painting is amply evident here in the rhythmic arrangement of the herons, boldly framed by their snowy perch. The stark black-and-white contrasts and the repetitive patterns of horizontal washes that define the white forms of the birds and branches further contribute to an effect of graphic elegance. Chikutō, born a doctor"s son in Nagoya, moved in 1815 to Kyoto, where he joined the circle of the nanga artist Rai Sanyō (1780–1832).