The artwork, “Crayfish and two shrimps,” created by Hiroshige between 1835 and 1845, is a woodcut print belonging to the Ukiyo-e art movement. Dimensions of the piece measure 24.8 x 36.3 cm, and it falls under the genre of animal painting. This distinguished artwork is housed in the Brooklyn Museum, located in New York City, NY, United States.
The artwork depicts an intricately detailed crayfish, prominently positioned to the left, with its long antennae extending across the composition. The crayfish’s body is rendered with meticulous attention to texture and form, capturing the spiny and robust characteristics of its shell. To the right of the crayfish, two shrimps are illustrated with subtle curves and detailed articulation, mirroring the natural motion and delicacy of these creatures. The background transitions from a soft gradient of light blue at the bottom, suggesting the aquatic environment, to an off-white upper section. Accompanying the visual elements, Japanese inscriptions and calligraphy embellish the upper portion of the artwork, seamlessly integrating text and imagery.
