Image

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重

Swallow and iris (Hanashobu ni tsubame)

Description

Maker

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797-1858, b. in Edo)

Title

Swallow and iris (Hanashobu ni tsubame)

Period

Edo (Japanese period)

Year

1840s

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

color, ink

Supports

Geography

Place Made: Japan; Place Made: Tokyo

Dimensions

Plate: 32.1 x 11.3 cm (12 5/8 x 4 7/16 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Inscription verso, bottom right in pencil: 60.

[text and poems]
Hanashobu/ sumai homehome/furo ni iru

A bath at a comfortable home-sweet flag iris

The sweet-flag plant (shobu) has a strong and pleasant smell and is placed in the bath to scent it. "Sumai homehome" implies that one is visiting someone else and is complimenting them on the comfort of his home and care of the guest. The iris refers also to the fifth day of the fifth month.

Signature: Signed at left | Hiroshige hitsu

Seals: Artist's seal | Ichiryusai

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Object Number

34.255

Type

Use & Feedback

Image use

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This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797-1858, b. in Edo)
Swallow and iris (Hanashobu ni tsubame), 1840s
Polychrome woodblock print
Plate: 32.1 x 11.3 cm (12 5/8 x 4 7/16 inches)
Gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 34.255

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