Printer's woodblock
18th–19th century
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
15 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. (39.4 x 26.7 cm)
Classification
Woodblocks
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Howard Mansfield, 1949
Accession Number
49.46.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This printer's woodblock, crafted by Utagawa Toyok I in 18th–19th Japan, offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes artistry of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that captured fleeting pleasures of Edo-period life. Toyokuni I, a figure in the Utagawa school, was renowned for his vibrant depictions of beautiful women (bijin-ga) and kabuki actors, often set against evocative landscapes. Measuring 15½ × 10½ inches, this wooden block—likely carved to print scenes of women amid scenic backdrops—highlights the collaborative genius of ukiyo-e production, where artists like Toyokuni ...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835