Shojinkoku

About this artwork

kleurenhoutsnede; lijnblok in zwart met kleurblokken

Art Historical Context

Created in May 1863 by Utagawa Yoshitora, *Shojinkoku* exemplifies the vibrant tradition of Japanese ukiyo-e printmaking during the late Edo period. As a member of the influential Utagawa school, Yoshitora contributed to a genre that captured the imagination of a broad audience through colorful depictions of contemporary life, history, and exotic subjects. This color woodcut, measuring 376 by 247 millimeters, reflects the refined techniques of its time. The print employs the classic nishiki-e method, using a black line block to define outlines alongside separate color blocks for rich, layered hues. This approach allowed for intricate detail and luminous effects on paper, making woodblock prints both affordable art objects and cultural touchstones. Produced just five years before the Meiji Restoration, the work offers a glimpse into a transitional era when Japan was opening to the wider world. Such prints served not only as decoration but also as vehicles for storytelling and social commentary, preserving fleeting moments of 19th-century Japanese culture for generations to come.

About the Artist

Utagawa Yoshitora · 1845–1880

Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川 芳虎), also known by his art names Ichimōsai, Mōsai, and Kinchōrō, was a prolific ukiyo-e artist born in Edo (modern Tokyo), where he trained under the renowned Utagawa Kuniyoshi, recognized as his oldest pupil. Little is known of his early life, which remains sparsely documented, but his earliest works include illustrations for the book *Story of Karasu Kanzaemon’s Loyalty* in...