Beauty representing spring, from an untitled series of beauties representing the four seasons
c. 1818/30
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
37.5 × 25.1 cm (14 3/4 × 9 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32977
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Utagawa Kuniyasu, a talented pupil of the Utagawa Toyokuni I, crafted this enchanting *Beauty representing spring* around 1818–1830. Part of an untitled series depicting beauties embodying the four seasons, color woodblock print exemplifies *bijin-ga*—images of elegant women that captured the fleeting pleasures of the "floating world" (*ukiyo-e*). The oban format (37.5 × 25.1 cm), a popular large size for such prints, allowed for intricate details visible from afar, making it ideal for urban audiences in theaters or teahouses. Kuniyasu's m...