Katydid (Umaoi-mushi); Centipede, (Mukade), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)
Original title: Katydid (Umaoi-mushi); Centipede, (Mukade), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)
kurzbeschreibung
This woodblock-printed page by Kitagawa Utamaro comes from the 1788 book Ehon mushi erami and sets a plant alongside a green beetle and a brown larva. Japanese text runs beside the scene. The sheet was printed in ink and color on paper.
Description
On the left, a plant grows with leaves and blossoms; on it sit a green beetle with long antennae and a brown larva. A block of Japanese text follows on the right, and the rest of the page is left open. Muted, natural tones, clear contours, and an exact rendering of nature define the image.
Context
This book appeared in the late Edo period, when nature studies gained popularity in Japanese art. It belongs to a series of woodblock-printed books that focus on insects and other small creatures. Such works counted as part of the kusazōshi genre and addressed an educated audience interested in observing nature.
Impact
Calm, even light and natural colors create a contemplative mood. The precise rendering of insects and plant invites close looking; it shows Utamaro's ability to capture even small creatures in an aesthetically appealing way.
Technique
Color woodblock printing (nishiki-e) allows fine lines and subtle tonal gradations, used here for a detailed nature study. Ink and colors were printed on paper; the technique comes from a book.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)