姿絵百人一首|Portraits for One Hundred Poems about One Hundred Poets (Sugata-e hyakunin isshu)
1695, fourth month
Medium
Set of three woodblock printed books; ink on paper
Dimensions
Each: 8 3/4 × 6 3/8 × 1/4 in. (22.2 × 16.2 × 0.6 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
JIB26a–c
Tags
Art Historical Context
Hishikawa Moronobu *Portraits for One Hundred Poems about One Poets* (Sugata-e hyakunin isshu), created in 1695 Japan's Edo period, is a set of three woodblock books that brings to life the renowned anthology *Hyakunin Isshu*. This classic collection features one waka poem each from 100 poets spanning over 400 years, from ancient nobility to medieval figures. Moronobu, a pioneering master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" style depicting everyday beauty, theater, and poetry—illustrates these poets with elegant portraits of both men and women, often set amid trees symbolizing natu...
About the Artist
Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese) · 1618 –1694
Japanese, 1618–1694