Panel (Furnishing Fabric)
20th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; block printed; glazed
Dimensions
218.8 × 132.5 cm (86 1/2 × 52 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
105196
Art Historical Context
This striking furnishing fabric panel, created by the renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Kunis I (also known as Toyokuni) in the 20th, exemplifies the enduring legacy of ukiyo-e aesthetics in textile design. Measuring an impressive 218.8 × 132.5 cm, it was crafted from cotton plain weave, meticulously block-printed and glazed for a vibrant, durable finish. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Textiles Department, this large-scale piece likely served as a decorative screen or room divider in traditional Japanese interiors, blending artistry with functionality. Kunisada, a master of the Utaga...
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...