Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重

Japanese Morning Glories (Asagao)

Maker

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797-1858, b. in Edo, Japan)

Title

Japanese Morning Glories (Asagao)

Period

Edo Period

Year

1843-1847

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

ink, color

Supports

Geography

Place Made: Japan; Place Made: Edo (location)

Dimensions

33.9 x 11.3 cm (13 3/8 x 4 7/16 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Poem:
Miru uchi no/jumyô no hashi ya/kusa no hana

In the twinkling of an eye, the end to life-a flowering plant

Signature: Signed at lower right | Hiroshige hitsu

Seals: Censor's seal | Mera Taichirô

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Object Number

34.185

Type

Exhibition History

Of Clover and Chrysanthemum
Autumn Themes in Japanese Woodblock Prints
Sep 01, 2010 – Dec 12, 2010

Label copy

The morning glory was cultivated as a garden flower as early as the Heian period (794-1185) and is mentioned often in Japanese literature. The inscribed poem reads:

“In the twinkling of an eye, the end to life-a flowering plant”

Of Clover and Chrysanthemums
Autumn Themes on Paper and Cloth
Sep 15, 1995 – Dec 10, 1995

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797-1858, b. in Edo, Japan)
Japanese Morning Glories (Asagao), 1843-1847
Polychrome woodblock print
33.9 x 11.3 cm (13 3/8 x 4 7/16 inches)
Gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 34.185

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