Behind the Screen
c. 1673/81
Medium
Woodblock print; sumizuri-e, oban yoko-e
Dimensions
27.2 × 38.4 cm (10 3/4 × 15 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
45761
Art Historical Context
Hishikawa Moronobu's *Behind the Screen* (c. 1673/81) is a captivating early example of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated Japan's vibrant urban life during the Edo period. As one of the first masters of this genre, Moronobu (c. 1618–1694) helped popularize woodblock prints as affordable art for the masses, depicting scenes of everyday pleasures like theater, fashion, and romance. This horizontal oban yoko-e print, measuring 27.2 × 38.4 cm, invites viewers into a private, intimate moment—likely peeking at lovers or courtesans shielded by a room divider—evoking the pl...
About the Artist
Hishikawa Moronobu
Hishikawa Moronobu (1618–1694) holds an unassailable position in Japanese art history as the founder of ukiyo-e, the 'pictures of the floating world' that would become Japan's most internationally recognized art form. Born in the provincial town of Yasuda during the early Edo period, Moronobu transformed woodblock printing from a purely utilitarian craft into an independent artistic medium, establ...