Who painted 歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums?

歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1835.

Where can I see 歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums?

歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums?

歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1835

歌川広重画菊に雉|Pheasant with Chrysanthemums is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print *Pheasant with Chrysanthemums* dates to roughly 1835. Executed in the narrow hosoban format, the work combines ink outlines with applied colour on paper. Unlike the artist’s famed landscape series, this piece concentrates on a single natural motif, presenting a solitary bird amid seasonal flowers.

Subject & Meaning

The image centers on a pheasant perched on a slender branch, its plumage rendered in muted browns and blues, while a vivid red throat draws the eye. Surrounding the bird are chrysanthemums in deep violet and white, some still tightly closed, suggesting the transition of seasons and the quiet elegance of the natural world.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed the traditional ukiyo‑e process: a carved woodblock provided the inked outlines, and separate blocks applied colour pigments. The hosoban size, long and narrow, emphasizes linear composition. Fine line work defines the bird’s feathers, while flat washes of colour give the chrysanthemums a subtle depth, reflecting the period’s attention to detail and restraint.

History & Provenance

Created during the Edo period, the print forms part of Hiroshige’s broader output beyond his celebrated travel series such as *The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. While the work was likely produced for the commercial market of the time, it now resides in museum collections that specialize in Japanese prints, illustrating the artist’s range beyond urban scenes.

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.