Peonies 1849 - 1851

print, ink, color-on-paper

water colours

pastel soft colours

egg art

print

japan

mural art

handmade artwork painting

ink

color-on-paper

spray can art

wall painting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Peonies" is a woodblock print by the renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, created between 1849 and 1851. It depicts a woman in traditional Japanese attire, standing gracefully in a garden adorned with peonies. The vibrant colors and meticulous detail of the print exemplify the ukiyo-e style, which flourished in Edo-era Japan. The woman's elegant pose and the delicate beauty of the flowers create a serene and harmonious composition, highlighting the appreciation for nature and artistry that characterized Japanese aesthetics during this period. This artwork is currently on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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After sumptuary edicts were issued in 1842, restrictions against luxurious fashions became even more strident. Subdued colors and simple stripes became the norm, even among the women working in pleasure quarters. By the mid-19th century, wearing clothing with muted colors and patterns was no longer a government imperative, but was regarded as exhibiting good taste. As outer robes became simpler, fashionistas shifted their focus to the linings and inner robes. The woman in this print, for example, wears a rather simple plaid kimono, but her inner robe is bright red. In addition, the blue lining of her robe matches her obi sash. The dark stripe in the center of the sash has the floral pattern that is echoed by the pattern of the sash's red lining. Such close attention to detail indicates a subtle and sophisticated fashion sense.