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: --- culture: Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) technique: color woodblock print department: Japanese Art collection: Japanese Art type: Print find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858) - artist --- 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: --- 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). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * Year in Review 1985. The Cleveland Museum of Art (1986). --- 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: --- 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. --- RELATED WORKS --- 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: --- 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