◎「A Pair of Mandarin Ducks」（Signed "Hiroshige hitsu" with artist's seal reading "Ichiryūsai(Ando)"; pub- lisher's seal reading "Jakurindo," and censor's seal/Important Art Object)

◎During the early 1830's, when Hiroshige was establishing him- self as a creator of landscape prints, he also devoted his talents to bird-and-flower subjects, issuing many prints characterized by a consistently fresh and brilliant quality. Bird-and-flower prints had already been developed into a major category of ukiyo-e by Hiroshige's senior contemporary, Hokusai. However, Hiroshige's works in this medium are in a style quite different from Hokusai's, de- riving their appeal from their lyric quality and a sensitive relating of the birds to their scenic habitats.

The haiku poem inscribed in the upper left reads:

The morning storm

Saw the parting of the mandarin ducks.

This verse, composed by Sakushoken Riho, a pupil of Bashō in the Genroku era (1688-1703), appeared in many haiku anthologies, including Haikai Kojin Gohyaku Dai (Five Hundred Titles of Haikai by Past Masters), issued in 1787. Mandarin ducks are a symbol of lovers' felicity, and a romantic allusion is clearly in- tended. the rich foreground colors against the pale blacks of the far distance. 

 ■Size

・Height: 38.4cm

・Width: 17.4cm

◎When shipping, we will take care to avoid water damage, bending, etc.

◎No need to worry about shipping. We will ship it quickly. Ships via FedEx courier. We will ship the item with a tracking number.