What movement is 歌川広重画芙蓉に高麗鶯|Black-naped Oriole Perched on a Stem of Rose Mallow?

歌川広重画芙蓉に高麗鶯|Black-naped Oriole Perched on a Stem of Rose Mallow is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

歌川広重画芙蓉に高麗鶯|Black-naped Oriole Perched on a Stem of Rose Mallow

歌川広重画芙蓉に高麗鶯|Black-naped Oriole Perched on a Stem of Rose Mallow is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1834 by the ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print depicts a black‑naped oriole perched on a stem of rose mallow. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a vivid yellow oriole, its wings slightly opened, balanced on a slender green stalk. Beneath the bird, a large pink rose‑mallow blossom with curving petals and verdant leaves occupies the lower space, set against a muted blue‑green wash that suggests sky or water.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the characteristic ukiyo‑e approach of clean, decisive line work and flat areas of pigment. The bird’s precise detailing stands in contrast to the softer, more rounded forms of the flower, creating a visual equilibrium between sharpness and gentleness.

Context

While many contemporaries favored bustling urban scenes, Hiroshige often turned to natural subjects, integrating flora and fauna into his landscape repertoire. The print entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains part of the museum’s Japanese prints collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

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.