埼鳳画譜|Kihō Picture Album (Kihō gafu 埼鳳画譜)
1827, early Autumn (Bunsei 10)
Medium
Woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
10 3/8 × 7 1/16 in. (26.3 × 18 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013
Accession Number
2013.756
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of Kawamura Kihō's *Kihō Picture AlbumKihō gafu 埼鳳画譜)*, a delightful woodblock-printed book from autumn 1827 (Bunsei 10) during Japan's Edo period (16151868). This compact treasure, measuring 10 3/8 × 7 1/16 inches, bursts with ink and color on paper, showcasing Kihō's mastery in capturing nature's charm. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Asian Art Department, it exemplifies the era's illustrated books, blending artistry with accessible printing techniques. Woodblock printing, a hallmark of Edo-period publishing, allowed intricate designs to be reproduced ...
About the Artist
Kawamura Kihō 河村琦鳳 · 1778–1852
Kawamura Kihō (河村琦鳳, 1778–1852) was a Japanese painter active during the late Edo period, a time when artistic traditions flourished amid urban prosperity and cultural refinement. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain scarce in historical records. Born in 1778, Kihō contributed to the vibrant world of album painting (gafu), producing intricate work...