Shimadai and Ainame Fish, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
1840s
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
10 1/8 x 14 9/16 in. (25.7 x 37 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Holme, 1980
Accession Number
JP3601
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Utagawa Hiroige captures the beauty of everyday nature in *Shimadai and A Fish*, from his series *Uozuk (Every Variety of Fish)*, created in the 184s. This woodblock, rendered in vivid ink and color on paper showcases two prized fish—shimadai (striped beakfish) and ainame (Japanese sea bass)—paired with seasonal leaves, highlighting their freshness and appeal in bustling urban markets. Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, elevated humble subjects like seafood into poetic art, blending realism with...
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...