Flourishing of Edo Pictures Depicting Dances (Odori keiyo Edo-e no sakae)
Medium
Color woodblock print; part of triptych
Dimensions
35.2 × 73.7 cm (13 7/8 × 29 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34420
Art Historical Context
This vibrant color woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III) captures the lively spirit of Edo-period entertainment in 1858. Created as part of a triptych, the work celebrates the flourishing dance performances that captivated audiences in the bustling city of Edo, now Tokyo. Kunisada, one of the most prolific ukiyo-e masters of his time, specialized in dynamic scenes from kabuki theater and popular culture, using bold lines and rich colors to bring everyday spectacles to life. Woodblock printing was a defining artistic medium of 19th-century Japan, allowing artists t...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) · 1786–1864
Utagawa Kunisada I, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1865), was born Sumida Shōgorō in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo) into a family that operated a hereditary ferry-boat service, providing stability after his father's early death. Displaying prodigious talent in drawing from childhood, he became an apprentice to the master Utagawa Toyokuni I around 1801 at age fifteen, entering the prest...