Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
Bequest of Richard P. Galeexpand_more 74.1.208
During the Edo period, a mania for morning glories emerged that led
enthusiasts to develop many new varieties. Fairs were held throughout
Japan with the most famous at Shingenji Temple in Iriya, northeast of
Ueno Park. The depiction of flora and fauna is a classic theme in the
Japanese arts but was relatively rare in Japanese woodblock prints until
the 1830s, when the market became flooded with designs in various
sizes, mostly by Hokusai and Hiroshige. This print is part of an untitled
series known as Large Flowers. Seven of the ten designs show animalplant
combinations like the one seen here, where a small tree frog is
hiding amongst the plants, escaping detection because of his green color
and bent legs that seem to mimic the unique features of the vines.
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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