Artwork
歌川広重画 月に雁|Wild Geese Flying under the Full Moon
歌川広重画 月に雁|Wild Geese Flying under the Full Moon 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
Wild Geese Flying under the Full Moon is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1833, exemplifying his ukiyo-e landscapes that departed from the genre's typical urban focus to emphasize natural, seasonal scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment of migratory geese in flight under a full moon, conveying the serene interplay of moonlight and natural movement, characteristic of the refined late Edo period aesthetic.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed simple shapes, bold black outlines, and subtle detailing (notably in the geese's feathers, yellow beaks, and feet) against a softly glowing night sky, implied rather than directly depicted.
History & Provenance
Part of a series showcasing Hiroshige's mastery of natural phenomena, the exact provenance and current location of this specific print are not detailed in the provided information.
Context
Created within the ukiyo-e tradition, this work reflects Hiroshige's innovation in shifting the genre's focus towards landscapes and the beauty of seasonal transitions.
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.
