Artwork
歌川広重画 芥子に瑠璃鳥|A Bluebird and Poppies
歌川広重画 芥子に瑠璃鳥|A Bluebird and Poppies is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1833 by the Edo‑period printmaker Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock depicts a solitary bluebird perched on a slender stem bearing a vivid red poppy. The composition is set against a pale blue sky, with a single green leaf and a brief line of Japanese characters framing the scene. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image juxtaposes the delicate form of the bird with the bold coloration of the poppy, suggesting a quiet observation of nature’s fleeting moments. The bird’s downward gaze and the flower’s solitary presence convey a sense of stillness, inviting contemplation of the simple beauty found outside the bustling urban life often shown in ukiyo‑e.
Technique & Style
Executed with traditional woodblock methods, Hiroshige employs flat, saturated reds for the poppy petals and a clear, muted blue for the sky. The bird is rendered with fine lines, a white eye, and a yellow beak, while the stem and leaf are outlined in simple strokes. The overall effect is clean and restrained, characteristic of Hiroshige’s later decorative approach.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Hiroshige’s mature period, when he increasingly turned to natural subjects beyond his famous travel series. After its creation, the piece entered the art market and was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display as an example of early 19th‑century Japanese printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
