Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重

These two prints (34.345.1 and 34.345.2) are almost identical, but they were issued by two different publishers and have slightly different Hiroshige signatures. In addition, the first publisher’s seal appears under the Hiroshige signature in the polychrome print, but on the monochrome print the seals of the second publisher appear under the inscription. The quality of the polychrome print is much higher than that of the monochrome example.

The association of the peony with status is clearly articulated by the Chinese philosopher and writer Zhou Dunyi (1017-73). In distinguishing the characteristics of the chrysanthemum, the peony, and the lotus, he writes, “[What I call] the peony flower is someone/a person of wealth and position.” It is this text that is cited on both prints.