Artwork

『画本虫撰』「赤蜻蛉」「いなこ」|Red Dragonfly (Akatonbo); Locust (Inago), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)

『画本虫撰』「赤蜻蛉」「いなこ」|Red Dragonfly (Akatonbo); Locust (Inago), 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 two‑panel woodblock sheet, produced in 1788, illustrates a red dragonfly and a locust, each set against a natural backdrop of foliage and blossoms.

This two‑panel woodblock sheet, produced in 1788, illustrates a red dragonfly and a locust, each set against a natural backdrop of foliage and blossoms. The prints form part of the illustrated volume known as the *Ehon mushi erami* (Picture Book of Crawling Creatures). The work is attributed to the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamuro and is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The left panel captures a scarlet dragonfly perched on a slender twig, its delicate wings fully extended, while the right panel presents a green locust settled on a stalk amid vivid pink and purple flowers. By focusing on these modest insects, the images reflect a broader Edo interest in the observation of everyday nature and the fleeting beauty of small creatures.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink and color on paper, the prints demonstrate the precision of ukiyo‑e woodblock methods. Fine line work renders the insect’s veins and antennae, while subtle gradations of pigment suggest translucency in the dragonfly’s wings. The use of contrasting hues for the surrounding flora enhances depth, and the overall composition balances naturalistic detail with a stylized, decorative sensibility.

History & Provenance

Created for the *Ehon mushi erami*, a popular series of natural‑history illustrations, the sheet entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition of Japanese prints. Its attribution to Utamuro aligns with the artist’s known practice of producing detailed studies of insects and plants alongside his celebrated portraits of women.

Context

During the late 18th century, Edo‑period publishers issued illustrated books that combined scientific curiosity with aesthetic appeal. Utamuro’s contribution to this genre reflects the period’s growing fascination with cataloguing the natural world, a trend that paralleled the rise of rangaku (Dutch learning) and the dissemination of printed knowledge among urban audiences.