Artwork
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 いなだ ふぐに梅|Suzuki and Kinmedai Fish from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1844, this woodblock print belongs to Utagawa Hiroshige’s series Uozukushi, which catalogues a range of marine life. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image presents two fish—suzuki (sea bass) and kinmedai (golden‑eye snapper)—set against a muted green backdrop, accompanied by delicate plum blossoms. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the contrasting forms of the two fish: a larger, dark‑blue specimen with a crimson ventral area and a smaller, reddish fish marked by a striped tail. Their prominent eyes and fin details convey a sense of vitality, while the surrounding blossoms introduce a seasonal, poetic element typical of Japanese visual poetry.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employs the ukiyo‑e method of carving separate blocks for each colour, allowing crisp outlines and restrained palettes to define the subjects. The clean linear treatment and limited tonal range emphasize the movement of the fish, while the subtle background hue provides depth without overwhelming the central figures.
History & Provenance
Born Andō Tokutarō in 1797, Hiroshige became a leading figure in the ukiyo‑e tradition, renowned for landscape series such as The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō. Though best known for urban scenes, his interest in natural motifs appears in this print. The piece entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early twentieth century.
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 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 かさご いさきに生姜|Isaki and Kasago Fish, 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 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 鰹に桜|Katsuo Fish with Cherry Buds, 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 車海老 鯵にたで|Aji Fish and Kuruma-ebi, 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 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)
鯉図|Carp