Artwork

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)

魚づくし黒鯛小鯛に山椒|Kurodai and Kodai Fish with Bamboo Shoots and Berries, 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

Utagawa Hiroshige created *Kurodai and Kodai Fish with Bamboo Shoots and Berries* circa 1834 as part of *Uozukushi*, a series highlighting various fish species. This woodblock print combines fish with seasonal elements, deviating from the typical urban themes of ukiyo-e.

Subject & Meaning

The print features two fish—a dark gray kurodai with sharp details and a reddish-brown kodai adorned with bright blue spots—accompanied by seasonal motifs (berries, possibly grapes, and greenery). These elements may symbolize the fleeting nature of seasons, a common theme in Japanese art.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the work showcases Hiroshige's use of cross-hatching—tiny, intersecting lines—to achieve textured, dimensional scales on the fish, contrasting with the plain green background.

History & Provenance

Created around 1834 during the Edo period, this piece is part of Hiroshige's *Uozukushi* series, an atypical venture into still-life for an artist renowned for landscapes.

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.