「亜墨利加國」|“America”: Enjoying Hot Air Balloons
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 14 3/4 x 28 3/4 in. (37.5 x 73 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of William S. Lieberman, 2005
Accession Number
2007.49.222
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant triptych by Utagawa Yoshitora captures a lively scene of Americans enjoying hot air balloons against a backdrop of Western-style buildings and fluttering flags. Created in 1867 as a set of three woodblock prints, the work uses bold ink and color on paper to convey motion and excitement, with figures of men and women gazing upward at the floating balloons. The panoramic format allows viewers to experience the spectacle as if standing among the crowd, highlighting the artist’s skill in composing dynamic, multi-sheet images popular during Japan’s late Edo period. At a pivotal moment...
About the Artist
Utagawa Yoshitora · 1845–1880
Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川 芳虎), also known by his art names Ichimōsai, Mōsai, and Kinchōrō, was a prolific ukiyo-e artist born in Edo (modern Tokyo), where he trained under the renowned Utagawa Kuniyoshi, recognized as his oldest pupil. Little is known of his early life, which remains sparsely documented, but his earliest works include illustrations for the book *Story of Karasu Kanzaemon’s Loyalty* in...