Portrait of Yoshida Sayaemon Kanesada
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm); W. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1929
Accession Number
JP1561
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), this striking woodblock print from 1852 captures the dignified portrait of Yoshida Sayaemon Kanesada, a figure celebrated in Japanese lore. Created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school, in collaboration with Yokogawa Horitake, the artwork exemplifies *musha-e* (warrior prints), a popular genre that romanticized historical heroes, swordsmen, and craftsmen. Measuring 14⅝ × 9⅞ inches, its vertical *ōban* format allowed for dynamic compositions that filled viewers' homes with tales of valor. Kuniyoshi's signature style shines t...
About the Artist
Yokogawa Horitake|Utagawa Kuniyoshi ( |Japanese) · |1797 – |1861
|Japanese, 1797–1861