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Not currently on display at the V&A

Irises at Kinegawa

Woodblock Print
1843-1847 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This uchiwa-e (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige uses a rich palette of blues, greens, yellows and purples in its depiction of women. The clothes and hairstyles identify these women as goten jochu or servants from a samurai (aristocratic military class) household, viewing the irises for which Kinegawa was famous. Kinegawa was located in north-east Edo in the central eastern part of the Mukojima district, a swampy area that was ideal for the cultivation of bog plants. The low-lying nature of the land is skilfully suggested by the tiny figures and farmhouse on the left that drop out of view behind the yellow horizon.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Irises at Kinegawa (assigned by artist)
  • Eight Famous Views of Plants and Trees in the Eastern Capital (series title)
Materials and techniques
Colour print from woodblocks
Brief description
Woodblock print, Utagawa Hiroshige I; 'Irises at Kinegawa', from the series 'Eight Famous Views of Plants and Trees in the Eastern Capital'; fan print, Japanese, 1843-1847
Physical description
Fan print, aiban size. Artist signature: Hiroshige ga. Publisher mark: Tsujiya Yasubei. Censor seal: Tanaka.
Dimensions
  • Approx. height: 220mm
  • Approx. width: 290mm
Style
Credit line
R. Leicester Harmsworth Gift
Place depicted
Summary
This uchiwa-e (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige uses a rich palette of blues, greens, yellows and purples in its depiction of women. The clothes and hairstyles identify these women as goten jochu or servants from a samurai (aristocratic military class) household, viewing the irises for which Kinegawa was famous. Kinegawa was located in north-east Edo in the central eastern part of the Mukojima district, a swampy area that was ideal for the cultivation of bog plants. The low-lying nature of the land is skilfully suggested by the tiny figures and farmhouse on the left that drop out of view behind the yellow horizon.
Collection
Accession number
E.2910-1913

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Record createdMarch 11, 2003
Record URL
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