Dimensions: 8 11/16 × 11 in. (22 × 28 cm) (image, sheet, uchiwa-e)
Copyright: Public Domain
"Roku" is a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige made in 19th century Japan. Hiroshige was a master of the ukiyo-e style, which translates to "pictures of the floating world". This artistic movement captured the ephemeral beauty of everyday life, yet it was also influenced by the socio-political context of the Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity but also strict social hierarchies. The fan shape of the print, known as uchiwa-e, suggests its function as a practical object meant to be carried and displayed. The image of lilies, with their delicate petals and vibrant colors, speaks to the Japanese appreciation for the natural world. But beyond aesthetics, consider how such images might have offered a form of escapism or a subtle commentary on the transient nature of power and beauty within a rigid social structure. They remind us to find moments of beauty and freedom.
Comments
Although birds and flowers are not a common subject for fan prints, Hiroshige created a number of fan series with floral designs between the 1840s and 1850s. This is one from a three-print set that features flowers symbolic of good fortune. In addition to their obvious beauty, spotted lilies with their edible roots have long been a source of nutrition in Japan. Thus, they represent an alternative meaning of the ideograph for prosperity (roku), which can connote "gift."
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