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『画本虫撰』「ひくらし」「くも」|Evening Cicada, Higurashi; Spider, Kumo, 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 Plant

Dominant colour

『画本虫撰』「ひくらし」「くも」|Evening Cicada, Higurashi; Spider, Kumo, 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 print shows two simple scenes side by side. On the left, a few thick vines twist around a small yellow flower. On the right, two insects—a beetle and a spider—climb tangled green vines. The background is plain, letting the lines and colors stand out. The artist used soft, earthy tones and careful brushstrokes to make the insects and plants look alive. The text along the left side is Japanese poetry, adding a quiet mood to the scenes. Next, look up Kitagawa Utamaro to see more of his detailed nature prints.