Surugadai, from the series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto Meisho)"
c. 1832/33
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
25.5 × 37.5 cm (10 1/16 × 14 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
9858
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi *Surugadai, from the series "Famous in the Eastern Capital (ōto Meisho)"* (c. 1832/33) captures the elegance of Edo (modern Tokyo) during Japan's Edo period. Part of a celebrated ukiyo-e series depicting iconic urban vistas, this print highlights Surugadai, a hilly district known for its samurai residences and cherry blossoms, offering a glimpse into the bustling "Eastern Capital." Kuniyoshi, a of the Utagawa school, infused his landscapes with dynamic energy, blending precise observation with imaginative flair typically seen in his warrior prints. Rendered as a color woodbl...
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...