Artwork
Mandarin Ducks and Flowering Plants
Mandarin Ducks and Flowering Plants is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The feathers are painted with quick, varied brushstrokes, some dark, some light, giving the bird texture and life.
You see a single mandarin duck standing on one leg among water plants and pink flowers.
In Japanese art, ducks often come in pairs—they mate for life. Here, the duck’s turned head hints at its missing partner. The feathers are painted with quick, varied brushstrokes, some dark, some light, giving the bird texture and life. This kind of picture, called *kachōga*, was a favorite in Edo-period Japan, especially for collectors.
To see more like this, look up *japan, edo period (1615–1868)*.
Overview
This print, titled Mandarin Ducks and Flowering Plants, features a single mandarin duck standing among water plants and flowers.
Subject & Meaning
The depiction of a duck, often symbolizing fidelity and tranquility in Asian art, is suggestive of a pair due to the bird's turned head, implying the presence of a mate.
Technique & Style
The duck's plumage is rendered through varied brushstrokes and ink tones, conveying texture and vitality. This style is characteristic of kachōga, or bird and flower pictures.
Context
Kachōga was a popular theme among Japanese collectors during the 19th century, with artists like Hiroshige producing notable works in this genre.
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.
歌川広重画 雪中芦に鴨|Mallard Ducks and Snow-covered Reeds
Untitled
Untitled
歌川広重画 芥子に瑠璃鳥|A Bluebird and Poppies
歌川広重画 楓に孔雀|A Peacock Perched on a Maple Tree
歌川広重画 山桜に燕|Swallows and Budding Wild Cherry
歌川広重画 菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums
Kingfisher and Chinese Bellflowers
歌川広重画 雪中芦に鴨|Mallard and Snow-covered Reeds