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Kobayashi Kiyochika, 小林清親 (Kobayashi Kiyochika)创作的日本版画《Two Ducks by Kobayashi Kiyochika — Japanese Woodblock print

Kobayashi Kiyochika, 小林清親 (Kobayashi Kiyochika)创作的日本版画《Two Ducks

by Kobayashi Kiyochika

Meiji/Taishō Prints
Landscapes
Medium:
Woodblock print
Image courtesy of
Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Description

This kacho-e depicts two ducks, a subject with deep roots in both Chinese and Japanese decorative painting. Paired ducks — particularly mandarin ducks — carry symbolic associations with marital fidelity and companionship in East Asian visual culture, though Kiyochika's treatment is more likely descriptive than overtly symbolic. His approach to bird subjects differs markedly from the decorative conventions of Hiroshige's kacho-e: rather than placing birds against flat, patterned backgrounds, Kiyochika situates them within atmospheric settings defined by water reflection and ambient light. The two ducks' plumage, rendered through careful gradation of ink and pigment on washi, would be observed with naturalistic attention to the birds' individual markings and posture, reflecting the influence of Western natural history illustration on Meiji-era visual culture.

More Prints by Kobayashi Kiyochika

The Bureau of Industry Building at Kammeidome by Kobayashi Kiyochika

The Bureau of Industry Building at Kammeidome

Woodblock print

View of Ariakero, Imado, from by Kobayashi Kiyochika

View of Ariakero, Imado, from

Woodblock print

Taro Inari Shrine at the Asakusa Ricefields — 浅草田甫太郎稲荷 by Kobayashi Kiyochika

Taro Inari Shrine at the Asakusa Ricefields — 浅草田甫太郎稲荷

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The great victory of our Naval forces near Phung-to in Korea by Kobayashi Kiyochika

The great victory of our Naval forces near Phung-to in Korea

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More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei) by Insho Domoto

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)

Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)" by Kawase Hasui

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)

n.d.

Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock PrintsMeisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Kobayashi Kiyochika, 小林清親 (Kobayashi Kiyochika)创作的日本版画《Two Ducks was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).

Kobayashi Kiyochika, 小林清親 (Kobayashi Kiyochika)创作的日本版画《Two Ducks depicts landscapes.