A Parrot Perched on a Maple Tree
Original Language Title紅葉にインコ
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige
(Japanese, 1797 - 1858)
CultureJapanese
Date1830s
MediumWoodblock print; ink and color on paper
DimensionsOverall: 9 7/8 × 5 inches (25.08 × 12.7 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number32-143/294
On View
On viewGallery Location
- 205
Collections
Exhibition HistoryLasting Impressions: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, April 5, 2025–July 6, 2025, no cat.
In these prints, Utagawa Hiroshige used dazzling colors to depict parrots and a macaw. These were rare birds in Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), brought by Chinese and Dutch traders through the port of Nagasaki, one of the only officially sanctioned trading sites in Japan at that time. From there, the birds were taken to different cities as pets for the ruling class and wealthy merchants. The birds also entertained spectators in entertainment stalls. These images would have attracted consumers from different economic backgrounds who were curious about these colorful birds.
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Utagawa Hiroshige
1855
72-36/1
