Mallard and kingfisher c. 1796

This woodblock print, "Mallard and kingfisher," is a work by the celebrated Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro. The artist's depictions of birds in the natural world are known for their elegant simplicity and realism. This print is a fine example of Utamaro's style, featuring a mallard duck and its young in a bed of reeds and a kingfisher perched on a branch. It is a charming work with detailed depiction of the birds and a delicate rendering of the background foliage, typical of Utamaro's work. This print dates from the late 18th century and is now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.