Dashun (Taishun), from the series "Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety as a Mirror for Children (Nijushiko doji kagami)"
c. 1843
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
24.5 × 36.9 cm (9 5/8 × 14 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
7568
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi1797–1861), a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, created *Dashun (Taishun)* around 1843 as part of his series *Twenty-four Par of Filial Piety as a Mirror for Children (ijushiko doji kagami)*. This woodblock print on oban paper (24.5 × 36.9 cm) captures one of 24 exemplary tales from a classic Chinese Confucian text, adapted for Japanese audiences to teach moral virtues, especially to young viewers. Kuniyoshi's dynamic style, known for its bold lines, vibrant colors, and dramatic compositions, brings these timeless stories to life, blending historical narrative with accessible s...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...