Ryugu Tamatori Hime no su|Recovering the Stolen Jewel from the Palace of the Dragon King
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
A: H. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm); W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm) B: H. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm); W. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm) C: H. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm); W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1929
Accession Number
JP1564
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant triptych by Utagawa Kuniy, created in 1853 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), captures dramatic legend of Tamatori-hime, a pearl diver who boldly steals a magical jewel from the underwater palace of the Dragon Kingugu. Titled *Ryugu Tamatori H no su | Recovering the Stolen Jewel the Palace of the Dragon*, the woodblock print unfolds across three panels, each measuring about 14⅜ inches high, showcasing Kuniyoshi's mastery of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" style that popularized dynamic scenes from myths, theater, and daily life. Kuniyoshi, a leading figure in lat...
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...