Boy Holding Hourglass and Chinese Fan
1780s
Medium
Color woodblock print
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
47757
Art Historical Context
In the tranquil world of 18th-century Japanese art, *Boy Holding Hourglass and Fan* captivates with its delicate portrayal of a young boy cradling an hourglass in one hand and an ornate Chinese fan in the other. Created around the 1780s as a color woodblock print, this hails from Japan's Edo period, a time when ukiyo-e prints—meaning "pictures of the floating world"—exploded in popularity, offering affordable glimpses into everyday life, beauty, and whimsy for urban dwellers. The medium itself is a marvel of artistry: multiple wooden blocks were meticulously carved, inked in vibrant hues, and...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...