19th century
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 13 5/8 × 9 1/2 in. (34.6 × 24.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Accession Number
JP212.40
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniy, a master of Japan's ukiyo-e tradition, dates to the 19th century during the Edo period (5–1868). with ink and color on paper, it measures 13⅝ × 9½ inches and exemplifies the vibrant, accessible art form that captured the "floating world" of everyday pleasures, fashion, and beauty. Kuniyoshi, a prolific artist from the renowned Utagawa school, was celebrated for his imaginative depictions of warriors, ghosts, and elegant women, blending technical precision with whimsical flair. Woodblock printing was a collaborative marvel of Edo-era craftsmansh...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...