『画本虫撰』「蛙」「こかねむし」|Frog (Kaeru); Gold Beetle (Kogane mushi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)

Kitagawa Utamaro

1788 · Page from woodblock-printed book; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

Ehon mushi erami (Picture Book of Crawling Creatures) is illustrated with fifteen designs of insects and other garden creatures by Utamaro. Published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō , the poems were selected and introduced by a preface written by the poet and scholar Yadoya no Meshimori (Rokujuen; 1753–1830), who later became head of the influential Go-gawa poetry group. Several of the top kyōka poets of the day were invited to contribute.

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Date

1788

Medium

Page from woodblock-printed book; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1918