Roku c. 1844

print, ink, color-on-paper

natural stone pattern

circular oval feature

egg art

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

tile art

fluid art

color-on-paper

wall painting

art nouveau

watercolour illustration

decorative art

"Roku" (c. 1844) is a uchiwa-e (fan print) by renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige. Depicting white lilies with pink speckles against a deep blue background, the print showcases Hiroshige's mastery of woodblock printing. The delicate details of the lilies and their leaves, along with the striking color contrast, create a visually captivating composition that is both beautiful and serene. The uchiwa-e format, popular in the Edo period, was often used to depict scenes of nature and everyday life.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Although birds and flowers are not a common subject for fan prints, Hiroshige created a number of fan series with floral designs between the 1840s and 1850s. This is one from a three-print set that features flowers symbolic of good fortune. In addition to their obvious beauty, spotted lilies with their edible roots have long been a source of nutrition in Japan. Thus, they represent an alternative meaning of the ideograph for prosperity (roku), which can connote "gift."