Preparing Food for a Nightingale, from the illustrated kyoka anthology "Men's Stamping Dance (Otoko toka)"
1798
Medium
Color woodblock print; double-page illustration from book
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89342
Art Historical Context
**Preparing Food for a Nightingale**, a vibrant color woodblock print by the renowned Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro dates to 1798 and graces the pages of the illustrated kyoka anthology *Men's Stamping Dance (Ot toka)*. As a double-page spread, it exemplifies Utamaro's mastery of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that captured the fleeting pleasures of Edo-period (1603–1868) life. Kyoka, a witty parody of classical Japanese poetry, infused these anthologies with humor and satire, blending verse with evocative imagery to delight urban audiences. Utamaro, celebrated for his bijin...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...