Lady on Way to the Bath

Art Historical Context

**Lady on the Way to the Bath** is a captivating woodblock print by Ishikawaonobu, a prominent ukiyo-e artist Japan's Edo period (16151868). Created in an unknown date during the 18th century, this exemplifies the "floating world" genre, which celebrated everyday pleasures, beauty, and fleeting moments of urban life in Edo (modern Tokyo). Toyonobu, a student of master Nishimura Shigenaga specialized in bijin-ga—elegant depictions of beautiful women—often infusing his prints with subtle sensuality. The print's narrow, vertical format (H. 27¾ in.; W. 4⅛ in.) identifies it as a rare *hashira-e*, or pillar print, designed to hang between rooms or on architectural pillars, immersing viewers in intimate scenes. Rendered in vibrant ink and color on paper through meticulous woodblock techniques—carving separate blocks for each hue and layering them precisely—the artwork showcases the precision of ukiyo-e craftsmanship. Its subject, a graceful female nude en route to the bath, reflects Edo-era fascination with feminine allure and private rituals, blending eroticism with artistic refinement. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department as part of the esteemed H.O. Havemeyer Collection (1929), this piece offers a window into Japan's vibrant print culture, where such works were affordable art for the masses, democratizing beauty and desire.

About the Artist

Ishikawa Toyonobu · 1711–1785

Japanese, 1711–1785