Cherry Blossoms and Irises, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
Original title: Cherry Blossoms and Irises, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
kurzbeschreibung
This double-page spread comes from Kitagawa Utamaro's illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons, published in 1801. The woodblock print in ink and color on paper measures 17.3 × 26.2 cm. Two groups of plants are shown: irises on the left and yellow flowers on the right.
Description
On the left half, irises appear at different stages of bloom, with brown-orange flowers and green leaves. The right page is filled with yellow flowers, likely jasmine, among green foliage. The arrangement is balanced, with the plants centered on the sheet. Even lighting suggests artificial illumination. Clear, strong colors and distinct contrasts define the print.
Context
Kitagawa Utamaro ranks among Japan's outstanding ukiyo-e artists and became known above all for images of women and nature scenes. The book Flowers of the Four Seasons appeared in 1801, during a phase of growing interest in botanical motifs. Such illustrated volumes served a wealthy urban audience as objects of education and collecting.
Impact
The sheet feels calm and orderly to the viewer, and the balanced arrangement conveys clarity. Strong colors and precise lines draw the eye to the details of the plants. A quiet closeness to nature emanates from the pages and invites lingering.
Technique
Executed as a woodblock print with ink and color on paper. The Japanese color woodblock print allowed for fine gradations of color and exact contours. Clear, high-contrast colors are characteristic of ukiyo-e prints of this period.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)