Artwork
魚づくし 鰹に桜|Katsuo Fish with Cherry Buds, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし 鰹に桜|Katsuo Fish with Cherry Buds, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish) 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
This woodblock print, 'Katsuo Fish with Cherry Buds,' is part of the 'Uozukushi' (Every Variety of Fish) series by Utagawa Hiroshige, created around 1834. It showcases the artist's skill in depicting natural subjects using ink and color on paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a detailed, realistic representation of a blue fish, identified by its crescent-shaped marking and long, pointed tail, swimming amidst illustrations of cherry blossoms. The pairing of fish with cherry buds may symbolize seasonal themes or the beauty of nature.
Technique & Style
The image is characterized by its detailed rendering of the fish, with visible scales and fins, set against a warm, beige background. The contrast between the cool tones of the fish and the background highlights Hiroshige's mastery of color and composition.
Context
As part of the 'Uozukushi' series, this print expands the ukiyo-e genre beyond its typical focus on courtesans, actors, and urban scenes, instead exploring marine life and natural motifs.
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.
魚づくし 黒鯛 小鯛に山椒|Kurodai and Kodai Fish with Bamboo Shoots and Berries, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし いなだ ふぐに梅|Suzuki and Kinmedai Fish from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし ひらめ めばるに桜|Hirame and Mebaru Fish with Cherry Blossoms, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし かれい かながしらに笹|Kanagashira and Karei Fish, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし|Medetai Fush and Sasaki Bamboo, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし かさご いさきに生姜|Isaki and Kasago Fish, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし ぼらにうど|Bora Fish with Camellia, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし 車海老 鯵にたで|Aji Fish and Kuruma-ebi, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし こちに茄子|Kochi Fish with Eggplant, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
魚づくし 伊勢海老 芝蝦|Ise-ebi and Shiba-ebi, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
『画本虫撰』「蛙」「こかねむし」|Frog (Kaeru); Gold Beetle (Kogane mushi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)