Picture Book of Selected Insects (The Insect Book) (Ehon mushi erami)
Original title: Picture Book of Selected Insects (The Insect Book) (Ehon mushi erami) 画本虫撰
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro brought out the two-volume woodblock-printed book 'Bilderbuch ausgewählter Insekten' (Ehon mushi erami) in 1788. The edition combines ink and color with mica in the second volume, all on paper. Insects and plants appear in a naturalistic manner, accompanied by Japanese characters that serve as captions.
Description
On the open double-page spread, a flying bee approaches a honeycomb with several bee larvae on the left. The right page is filled with a plant whose leaves range through graded greens and whose pink blossoms host a brown caterpillar. Japanese characters are scattered across the pages, and the paper has a slightly yellowish, aged tone.
Context
The book was made in the late Edo period, when nature studies and the representation of small creatures were gaining popularity in Japanese art. As an ehon—an illustrated book—it was often intended for a wide audience. The use of mica in the second volume, a costly technique, suggests an upscale readership.
Impact
The close observation of insects and plants creates a quiet, almost scientific mood. Delicate colors and fine lines give the pages an elegant yet lively presence.
Technique
The volumes were printed by woodblock, with ink and pigments applied to the paper. The second volume also contains mica, which gives the printed areas a shimmering effect. The pages are arranged as double leaves and reproduce the motifs in rich detail.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)