A Bluebird and Poppies

1832–34

Not on view

The anonymous poet sensitively observes that the thin, fragile petals of poppy flowers might be scattered by the flapping of a bird’s wing.

鳥飛て　あふなき芥子の　一重かな

Tori tonde (tobite)
abunaki keshi no
hitoe kana

A bird flying by—
poses danger to poppies
with single layers of petals.
—Trans. John T. Carpenter

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

歌川広重画　芥子に瑠璃鳥
Title: A Bluebird and Poppies
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1797–1858 Tokyo (Edo))
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1832–34
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print
Dimensions: 13 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (33.7 x 10.8 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
Object Number: JP2532
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Utagawa Hiroshige

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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Poppy and Sparrow, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Poppy and Sparrow
Utagawa Hiroshige
ca. 1833

Small View of Yedo, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Print, Japanese — Small View of Yedo
Utagawa Hiroshige
1817–58

Hiratsuka, Nawate Do, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Hiratsuka, Nawate Do
Utagawa Hiroshige
ca. 1834

Yokkaichi, Sanchokawa, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Yokkaichi, Sanchokawa
Utagawa Hiroshige
ca. 1834

Snow on the Sumida River, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Snow on the Sumida River
Utagawa Hiroshige
ca. 1835

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