Small Owl perched on a Pine Branch

Hiroshige’s Small Owl Perched on a Pine Branch and Cuckoo Flying in Rain (lot 67) are particularly intriguing examples of his intimate studies of birds and nature. The two compositions are closely related in an unusual technical respect: both designs were carved into the same woodblock, with each image occupying a different section of the block. This ingenious use of the block reflects the practical and economical methods of nineteenth century ukiyo-e production, while allowing Hiroshige to explore two contrasting moments in nature, the quiet stillness of the owl and the lively movement of the cuckoo through the rain.