Feeding the Myriad Bird (Momochidori), from the series "The Story of Three Birds (Sanchoden)"
19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
21.8 × 19.5 cm (8 5/8 × 7 11/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81285
Art Historical Context
"Feeding the Myriad (Momochidori from Keisai Eisen's seriesThe Story of Three Birds (Sanchoden)*, is a delightful 19th-century color woodblock print measuring 21.8 × 19.5 cm. Created during Japan's Edo period, this surimono—a luxurious, privately commissioned print often produced for special occasions like New Year's—showcases Eisen's mastery in the uyo-e tradition, blending whimsy with exquisite craftsmanship. Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), a prolific artist known for his bijin-ga (beautiful women) and genre scenes, here captures a poetic moment likely inspired by folklore or wordplay. "Momochido...
About the Artist
Keisai Eisen · 1790–1848
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), born Ikeda Yoshinobu in Edo (modern Tokyo), emerged as one of the late Edo period's most prolific ukiyo-e masters. The son of the renowned calligrapher and Kanō-school painter Ikeda Shigeharu, Eisen was immersed in the arts from childhood. He apprenticed under Kanō Hakkeisai, adopting the art name "Keisai" in homage to his teacher, and later studied bijin-ga (images of be...