Artwork
歌川広重画 燕子花に川蝉|Kingfisher and Irises
歌川広重画 燕子花に川蝉|Kingfisher and Irises 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
This woodblock print, Kingfisher and Irises, is a work by Utagawa Hiroshige, created in 1833. It is a representative example of the artist's focus on natural subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a kingfisher in flight above two irises, showcasing Hiroshige's attention to botanical and seasonal detail. The image combines flora and fauna in a vertical composition, a format often used by the artist.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed simple shapes and bold colors to create a lively scene. The kingfisher's wings and the irises' petals are highlighted against a plain background, demonstrating the artist's use of contrast to draw attention to key elements.
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.
