Artwork

『画本虫撰』「けら」「はさみむし」|Mole Cricket (Kera); Earwig, (Hasami-mushi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)

『画本虫撰』「けら」「はさみむし」|Mole Cricket (Kera); Earwig, (Hasami-mushi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print is a page from the book 'Ehon mushi erami' (Picture Book of Crawling Creatures), created by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1788. It is held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print features detailed illustrations of two insects: a mole cricket clinging to a leaf on the left, and an earwig hiding under a leaf on the right, surrounded by flowers and branches. The surrounding Japanese text adds to the print's historical character.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employed soft colors and precise lines to render the insects lifelike. The delicate treatment of the creatures and their surroundings is characteristic of his style.