Quail and Poppies, c. 1835
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr.expand_more 81.133.126
Not on Viewexpand_more
Japanese artists have long paired quail and ripe grain in their autumn paintings. The quail's cry is thought to suggest the melancholy mood of that season. In this print, however, Hiroshige seems to be having some lighthearted fun with this tradition. In Japanese, young quail are called mugiuzura (literally, wheat-quail), since they hatch in fields of springtime grasses. Here, however, a young quail looks up at a poppy (a flower associated with summer), but as the poem suggests, it may be yearning for autumn:
The young quail cries,
dreaming of fall.
Details
- Title
- Quail and Poppies
- Artist Life
- 1797 - 1858
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 81.133.126
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Ukiyo-e shūka 14 (1981), Hiroshige list, p. 240, chūtanzaku #10.01
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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