魚づくし ひらめ めばるに桜|Hirame and Mebaru Fish with Cherry Blossoms, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish)
1844
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1844
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows two fish swimming near cherry blossoms. The fish are dark, with one facing left and the other upside down. The blossoms float around them in soft pinks and greens, while the background is a pale blue sky. The artist used tiny lines to create texture on the fish’s scales, making them look almost three-dimensional. The Japanese text along the top adds a poetic touch, hinting at a story beyond the image. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines like these.
