Shiki no sugatami (0016)
Medium
Color woodblock printed book, 3 volumes
Dimensions
22.4 × 15.2 cm (8 7/8 × 6 in.)
Classification
book
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
204352
Art Historical Context
Created in 1842 by the renowned ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III), *Shiki no sugatami* is a charming three-volume color woodblock printed book measuring just 22.4 × 15.2 cm. Kunisada, one of the most prolific artists of Japan’s late Edo period, was celebrated for his vibrant depictions of actors, beautiful women, and everyday life. This compact format made art and literature accessible to a wide audience beyond the elite. Woodblock printing allowed for the mass production of richly illustrated books, combining delicate line work with bold colors. Such volumes ofte...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) · 1786–1864
Utagawa Kunisada I, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1865), was born Sumida Shōgorō in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo) into a family that operated a hereditary ferry-boat service, providing stability after his father's early death. Displaying prodigious talent in drawing from childhood, he became an apprentice to the master Utagawa Toyokuni I around 1801 at age fifteen, entering the prest...