Peonies and Canary, c. 1834
Katsushika Hokusai; Author: Poem by Wang Shiming; Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachiexpand_more
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
Bequest of Richard P. Galeexpand_more 74.1.205
Not on Viewexpand_more
After the successful publication of his ten-print bird- and-flower (kachō-ga) series in the horizontal format (examples on view nearby), Hokusai released another kachō-ga series with the same publisher, Nishimuraya. The new set consisted of ten vertical compositions (three are on view) bearing a poem mentioning the featured flower. The Chinese-style poem at the upper right of this print is attributed to the Southern Song scholar Wang Shiming (1112–71).
Double-flowered peonies from Yangzhou, the king of flowers in bloom this spring.
The idea of cultivating plants as an elegant pastime was introduced from China as early as the 12th century and caught on among Japan’s aristocracy and military elite. By the Edo period, the hobby was pursued by all classes of society, even in thriving metropolitan areas like Edo. Peonies were especially popular, with blossoms of various colors, sizes, and types.
Details
- Title
- Peonies and Canary
- Artist Life
- 1760 - 1849
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 74.1.205
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Ukiyo-e shūka 16 (1981), p. 227, vertical chūban #22.09
- 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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