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『画本虫撰』「蚓」「こうろき」|Earthworm (Mimizu); Cricket (Kōrogi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami)

Kitagawa Utamaro

1788

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Ukiyo-e 18th Century Still Life Insect

Dominant colour

『画本虫撰』「蚓」「こうろき」|Earthworm (Mimizu); Cricket (Kōrogi), from the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami) is a 1788 ink by Kitagawa Utamaro, a Romanticism work, depicting Insect, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Kitagawa Utamaro
When & what style?: 1788 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This image shows two insects on a light background. On the left, a dark, curved earthworm clings to a large leaf. On the right, a small cricket perches on a stem beside broad, greenish leaves with yellow veins. The leaves look slightly wet, and thin vines twist around them. Notice how the artist used simple lines and soft colors to make these tiny creatures look almost alive. The earthworm’s body is smooth, while the cricket’s legs are tiny but clear. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.