id: 152492
accession number: 1985.314
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1985.314
updated: 2023-01-11 06:02:00.648000
Mandarin Ducks and Flowering Plants, early or mid-1830s. Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858). Color woodblock print; overall: 38.2 x 17.1 cm (15 1/16 x 6 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith 1985.314
title: Mandarin Ducks and Flowering Plants
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: early or mid-1830s
creation date earliest: 1830
creation date latest: 1837
current location:
creditline: The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith
copyright:
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culture: Japan, Edo period (1615-1868)
technique: color woodblock print
department: Japanese Art
collection: Japanese Art
type: Print
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
* Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858) - artist
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measurements: Overall: 38.2 x 17.1 cm (15 1/16 x 6 3/4 in.)
state of the work:
edition of the work:
support materials:
inscriptions:
inscription: Signature: Hiroshige hitsu.
Artist Seal: Ichiryusai.
Publisher: Wakasaya Yoichi (Jakurindo).
Censorship Seal: kiwame.
translation:
remark:
inscription: Collector's seal: Vever
translation:
remark:
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
title: A Private World: Japanese and Chinese Art from the Kelvin Smith Collection
opening date: 1988-09-14T04:00:00
A Private World: Japanese and Chinese Art from the Kelvin Smith Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 14-November 13, 1988).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
* Year in Review 1985. The Cleveland Museum of Art (1986).
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PROVENANCE
Henri Vever [1854–1942], France
date: ?-1942
footnotes:
citations:
(Sotheby & Co., London, UK, March 26, 1975, lot 362)
date: March 26, 1975
footnotes:
citations:
(R. E. Lewis, Inc., California, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Kelvin Smith)
date: 1975-?
footnotes:
citations:
The Kelvin Smith Collection, Cleveland, OH, given by Mrs. Kelvin [Eleanor Armstrong] Smith [1899-1998] given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
date: ?-1985
footnotes:
citations:
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
date: 1985-
footnotes:
citations:
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fun fact:
digital description:
wall description:
In Asian painting, ducks are usually shown in pairs because a male and female mate for life. They symbolize fidelity and tranquility. The presence of another duck is suggested here by the gesture of the bird's head. Notice the variety of brushstrokes and ink tones used to depict the duck's plumage.
The bird and flower genre is a popular theme in the paintings and prints of the Kelvin Smith Collection. Kachoga, or bird and flower pictures, became popular among collectors in Japan during the 19th century, due in large part to Hiroshige. Although better known for his landscape prints, Hiroshige made several exceptional prints of birds, plants, and animals that reveal his keen observation of nature.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
Sotheby's London. Highly Important Japanese Prints, Illustrated Books and Drawings and Fan Paintings, from the Henri Vever Collection: Part II. March 26, 1975.
page number:
url:
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.314/1985.314_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.314/1985.314_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.314/1985.314_full.tif