『画本虫撰』「きりきりす」「蝉」|Grasshopper (Kirigirisu); Cicada (Semi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)
1788
Medium
Page from woodblock-printed book; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
10 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (26.7 x 18.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
JP1055
Tags
About this artwork
This page depicting a grasshopper (kirigirisu) and cicada (semi) comes from Ehon mushi erami (Picture Book of Crawling Creatures), a groundbreaking natural history album by Kitagawa Utamaro published in 1788. The work represents a fusion of scientific observation and artistic expression during Japan's Edo period. The print features delicate renderings of two insects among plant forms, demonstrating Utamaro's exceptional ability to capture the essence of small creatures with elegance and precisi...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...