Sea Breams c. 1830s

"Sea Breams" is a woodblock print by renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, created in the 1830s. The artwork depicts two sea breams, a common delicacy in Japanese cuisine, rendered with meticulous detail. Hiroshige was a master of capturing the beauty of the natural world, as seen in the intricate scales and fins of the fish, set against a backdrop of delicate cherry blossoms. This print exemplifies the "ukiyo-e" style, which captures the fleeting beauty of the everyday, and highlights Hiroshige's mastery in conveying both realism and artistic expression.