Artwork

大坂下り早竹虎吉|The Plum Blossom that Flew on Lightning from Chikushino

大坂下り早竹虎吉|The Plum Blossom that Flew on Lightning from Chikushino is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshiharu. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Plum Blossom that Flew on Lightning from Chikushino is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Yoshiharu in 1857, featuring a dramatic scene with a human figure and a supernatural being.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a man in a kimono standing on a curved surface, holding a red object, while a multi-limbed figure surrounded by a lightning bolt floats above him, suggesting a narrative involving the supernatural or mythological.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the print showcases Utagawa Yoshiharu's characteristic bold and dynamic composition, with vivid red and blue accents adding depth and visual interest to the scene.

History & Provenance

The print is now held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, indicating its significance as a representative work of Utagawa Yoshiharu's style and a notable example of mid-19th-century Japanese woodblock printing.