Listening to the cuckoo's cry

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Toyohiro (1773–1814), a master of thekiyo-e tradition in late Edo-period Japan, created *Listening to the Cuckoo's Cry*, a color woodblock print in the distinctive *habahiro hashira* format. This narrow, vertical pillar print—measuring roughly 28 by 9 inches—was designed to adorn architectural pillars in homes or teahouses, blending art seamlessly into everyday spaces. Produced through the collaborative woodblock process, where artisans carved blocks for each color layer, it exemplifies the precision and vibrancy of Japanese printmaking. The title evokes a poetic moment of quiet contemplation, as the cuckoo (*hototogisu*) symbolizes spring's fleeting beauty in Japanese literature and waka poetry. Toyohiro, mentor to the famed Hiroshige, captured the "floating world" of ukiyo-e—ephemeral pleasures like nature's sounds amid urban life. His style bridges classical landscapes with intimate human scenes, using subtle gradients (*bokashi*) and bold outlines to draw viewers into serene, atmospheric vignettes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this undated print highlights ukiyo-e's global influence on modern art, from Impressionism to Japonisme. Visitors are invited to imagine pausing beneath cherry blossoms, attuned to nature's call.

About the Artist

Utagawa Toyohiro · 1763–1828

Utagawa Toyohiro (1763–1828) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist and painter who founded a major branch of the Utagawa school and is best remembered as the teacher of Utagawa Hiroshige, one of the greatest landscape print designers in Japanese art history. Born in Edo (present-day Tokyo), he studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, the founder of the Utagawa school, who was noted for introducing Western perspect...