1831
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tsukudajima hatsuhotogizu|東都名所 佃島初郭公|The Year's First Song of the Cuckoo at Tsukudajima is a 1831 ink by Utagawa Hiroshige, a Romanticism work, depicting Bird, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a quiet waterfront scene at dusk. Tall wooden poles line the shore, holding up nets or baskets filled with round, woven containers. Behind them, small houses with thatched roofs sit along the water’s edge. A few boats float in the calm blue bay, and a crescent moon hangs low in the sky. The sky glows with soft pink and purple clouds, while a single bird flies near the moon. The artist paid close attention to how light hits the water and buildings, making everything feel peaceful. The text at the top names the place—it’s a spot known for its first cuckoo song of the year. Look up Utagawa Hiroshige next to see more of his calm, detailed scenes.
Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
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