Bamboo and Sparrows

Two sparrows occupy a simple composition: one perches on a leafy branch at lower right while the other hovers above, head turned down toward it. A pale teal bamboo stalk rises on the left, with dark ink strokes for leaves and a small red seal marking the stalk. The restrained palette of ink, teal and rust is set against cream paper.

Look closer: A small red seal is stamped on the bamboo stalk, and a round seal sits in the lower right corner.

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Date

ca. 1840

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

1433 × 1848 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1918