A pair of mandarin ducks rests on calm water in this print by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). Hiroshige is remembered above all as a master of the landscape print, but he also designed kachō-e — bird-and-flower pictures — and this study of two ducks belongs to that quieter side of his work.
The print is a colour woodblock. Hiroshige set the male's elaborate plumage — the upright orange sail feathers, the green head, the fine patterning — against the female's quieter earth tones. The water is kept plain, so the contrast between the two birds carries the design.
Mandarin ducks are an old East Asian emblem of marital devotion: the birds are said to pair for life and are seldom seen apart. The print states that idea gently, without sentiment. It suits a bedroom, a dining room, or a shared living space where a calm, companionable image is wanted.
The print comes in three formats. The paper edition is printed on heavyweight archival stock, ready for a clip frame or . . . Read More >>
A pair of mandarin ducks rests on calm water in this print by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). Hiroshige is remembered above all as a master of the landscape print, but he also designed kachō-e — bird-and-flower pictures — and this study of two ducks belongs to that quieter side of his work.
The print is a colour woodblock. Hiroshige set the male's elaborate plumage — the upright orange sail feathers, the green head, the fine patterning — against the female's quieter earth tones. The water is kept plain, so the contrast between the two birds carries the design.
Mandarin ducks are an old East Asian emblem of marital devotion: the birds are said to pair for life and are seldom seen apart. The print states that idea gently, without sentiment. It suits a bedroom, a dining room, or a shared living space where a calm, companionable image is wanted.
The print comes in three formats. The paper edition is printed on heavyweight archival stock, ready for a clip frame or custom framing. The framed edition arrives ready to hang, glazed with shatter-resistant acrylic that is lighter and safer than glass. The canvas edition is printed on satin-coated cotton, stretched over a wooden frame.
Frequently asked questions
What do the mandarin ducks symbolise?
In East Asian culture mandarin ducks stand for marital devotion and lasting love, as the birds are said to pair for life and are seldom seen apart.
How can you tell the male duck from the female?
The male carries the brighter plumage — upright orange sail feathers, a green head, and fine patterning — while the female wears quieter earth tones.
What is kachō-e?
Kachō-e is the Japanese genre of bird-and-flower pictures. This is a kachō-e study, focused on a single pair of birds on calm water.
Where does this print suit best?
It suits a bedroom, a dining room, or a shared living space where a calm, companionable image is wanted.
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Japan historical period: Edo 江戸 (1603-1868)
Check out other artwork of Utagawa Hiroshige
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#Birds
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#Calligraphy
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#Floral Elements
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#Foliage
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#Japanese Art
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#Japanese Woodblock Print
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#Kacho-E
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#Lotus
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#Mandarin Duck
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#Mandarin Ducks
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#Nature
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#Peaceful
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#Ukiyo-E
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#Utagawa Hiroshige
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#Water
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#Water Birds
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