"Ro": Seaweed, from the series "Tales of Ise in Fashionable Brocade Pictures (Furyu nishiki-e Ise monogatari)"
c. 1772/73
Medium
Color woodblock print; koban
Dimensions
22.8 × 15.8 cm (8 15/16 × 6 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89192
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, where Katsukawa Shunsho's *“Ro”: Seaweed* from the series *T of Ise in Fashion Brocade Pictures (Fū nishiki-e Ise monogatari)* captivates with its elegant fusion of classical literature and Edo-period flair. Created around 1772–73, this koban-format color woodblock print—measuring a compact 22.8 × 15.8 cm—exemplifies Shunsho's mastery in the ukiyo-e tradition. As a leading figure in the Katsukawa school, Shunsho was renowned for his refined depictions of actors, beauties, and scenes from everyday life, blending poetic grace wit...