A Parody of Hachi no ki
Medium
Color woodblock prints; oban triptych
Dimensions
Right sheet: 36.7 × 25.4 cm (14 1/2 × 10 in.); Center sheet: 36.7 × 25.4 cm (14 1/2 × 10 in.); Left sheet: 36.5 × 25.6 cm (14 3/8 × 10 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
21657
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769–1825), a master of the Ukiyo-e school during Japan's Edo period, created *A Parody of H no ki*, a vibrant color woodblock print in the grand oban triptych format. Comprising three sheets—each around 36.7 × 25.4 cm—this medium allowed for expansive, theatrical compositions that captured the energy of Kabuki theater, a cornerstone of popular culture. Toyokuni was renowned for his yakusha-e (actor prints), vividly portraying performers in dramatic roles with expressive faces, flowing robes, and dynamic poses. The title references *Hachi no ki* (The Well of the Eight Plat...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835