Bonito and saxifrage, from an untitled series of fish
- Date:
- c. 1832/33
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print; oban, trimmed
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
From Hiroshige's A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi), a distinctive series featuring close-up studies of fish and marine creatures. Less famous than his landscape series but prized by collectors for its bold graphic quality and naturalistic observation.
"Bonito and saxifrage, from an untitled series of fish" is a [ukiyo-e](/glossary/ukiyo-e) print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created during the late Edo period. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.
Utagawa Hiroshige approaches abstraction through the unique constraints and possibilities of woodblock printing, where the grain of the wood, the pressure of the [baren](/glossary/baren), and the interaction of pigment and paper all contribute to the final image. His work influenced Van Gogh and other Impressionists.
As a [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) work — designed, carved, and printed entirely by the artist's own hand — this print embodies the creative philosophy that the printmaker's personal expression should permeate every stage of production, from concept to finished impression.
This print represents Utagawa Hiroshige's contribution to the ukiyo-e tradition during the late Edo period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Bonito and saxifrage, from an untitled series of fish was created by Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) in c. 1832/33.
Bonito and saxifrage, from an untitled series of fish depicts fish and animals.
