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Dragon in Clouds

Dragon in Clouds

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Utagawa Hiroshige

A dragon in clouds was a popular motif in Japan that came from a Chinese tradition of ink painting. Hiroshige’s subdued palette and painterly treatment of the subject clearly reflect this origin. The black and red abstracted design of the clouds highlights the menacing head and ferocious claws of the dragon. Although these mythical creatures appear powerful and fearsome, they are considered to be auspicious signs of wealth and good fortune.
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige
(Japanese, 1797 - 1858)
Title
Dragon in Clouds
Date
ca. 1835
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
Large panel: 382 x 171 mm Image
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.1853
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

By 1925, purchased in Japan by Frank Lloyd Wright; ca. 1926, acquired by The Bank of Wisconsin; 1928, sold to Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 113, no. 78
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Hiroshige ten: Seitan 200-shunen kinen (200th Anniversary Hiroshige Exhibition)." Madison, WI: Elvehjem Museum of Art; Japan: Bun You Associates, 1996. no. 176

  • 200th Anniversary Hiroshige Exhibition (Hiroshige ten: seiten 200-shunen kinen): Elvehjem Museum of Art, 4/29/1996–12/8/1996

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