Moon Seen through Leaves, 1840s

Utagawa Hiroshige; Publisher: Sanoya Kiheiexpand_more

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more

Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr.expand_more  P.70.145

Not on Viewexpand_more

Originally published ca. 1832 by Wakasaya Yoichi. This is a later edition by Sanoya Kihei from the 1840s.

Judging from the series title for this print, the intention was to design twenty-eight images inspired by the moon. Today, only two designs are known, suggesting that the publisher abandoned the idea shortly after beginning. For this image, Hiroshige was inspired by a poem originally published in the Wakan Rōeishū (Anthology of Chinese and Japanese Poems for Recitation), compiled in the 11th century by the courtier Fujiwara Kintō:

    It is not unbearable to see maple leaves fall,
    Scattering on the mass-covered ground.
    It is unbearable to feel the wind grow chilly
    And see the whole sky darkening.
            (trans. by Yoko Woodson)
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Details
Title
Moon Seen through Leaves
Artist Life
1797 - 1858
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.70.145
Catalogue Raisonne
Ukiyo-e shūka 14 (1981), Hiroshige list, p. 241, large tanzaku #1.1
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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