Album of Sketches

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with *Album of Sketches* Yūkakudō (幽覚堂), a late 18th-century woodblock-printed book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Asian Art collection. This accordion-style orihon folds elegantly into a portable volume (13 3/4 × 11 7/16 in.), its pages alive with ink and color illustrations of men and women engaged with musical instruments and fans—evoking scenes of refined leisure and social grace. Crafted during the Edo period (1615–1868), when woodblock printing revolutionized art dissemination, this album exemplifies the era's mastery of precise linework and subtle color layering. Orihon books, prized for their sequential unfolding, were ideal for sketch collections, allowing artists like Yūkakudō to showcase motifs that influenced later ukiyo-e traditions. The medium's affordability made such intimate glimpses into daily life accessible beyond elite circles. These sketches offer a window into Japan's urban culture, where fans fluttered amid melodies, blending artistry with everyday elegance. Acquired through the Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift in 2013, it reminds us how folded pages once carried the pulse of a thriving society.