Catching Fireflies

Creator Name

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, c. 1754–1806);
喜多川歌麿

Cultural Context

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Date

Creation: c. 1796–97

Source

Cleveland Museum of Art

About the Work

Cleveland Museum of Art Object Description

Caught up in a frenzied pursuit of fireflies, one boy has waded into a stream after his quarry, while a younger one watches in anticipation as a young woman thrusts her fan into the air in the hope of capturing hers. In the center of the composition, a girl examines the insects trapped in her elegantly carved cage.

Work details

"--" = no data available

= Curationist added metadata

(Learn more)

Title

Catching Fireflies

Creator

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, c. 1754–1806), artist;
喜多川歌麿, artist

Worktype

Cultural Context

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Material

Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper

Dimensions

Overall: 38.2 x 76.8 cm (15 1/16 x 30 1/4 in.);
height: 0.382metre;
width: 0.768metre

Technique

Language

Date

Creation: c. 1796–97

Provenance

Jeptha H. Wade III [1924–2008], Massachusetts, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art, ?–1975; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1975–; Gift of Jeptha H. Wade in honor of Emily V. Wade

Style Period

Rights

CC0

Inscription

Artist's signature: Utamaro hitsu; Publisher: Izumiya Ichibei (Senichi han). Censorship seal: kiwame

Location

Source

Cleveland Museum of Art

Subjects

Topic

Help us improve this content!

Let our archivists know if you have something to add.

Send us your feedback

Save this work.

Start an account to add this work to your personal curated collection.