The Abundance of the Mountains
1765
Medium
Two volumes; polychrome woodblock printed book
Dimensions
Each: 10 7/8 × 7 3/4 × 3/8 in. (27.6 × 19.7 × 1 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
JIB54a, b
Art Historical Context
**The Abundance of the Mountains** is a captivating two-volume illustrated book created by Katsuma Ryūsai in 1765, during Japan's vibrant Edo period (1615–1868). This polychrome woodblock printed work, measuring about 10 7/8 × 7 3/4 inches per volume, exemplifies the era's mastery of printmaking. Ryūsai, a skilled artist of the time, likely drew inspiration from the natural world, evoking the lush bounty of Japan's mountains through vivid imagery and intricate designs. Woodblock printing with multiple colors—polychrome—was a revolutionary technique in Edo Japan, allowing for the mass producti...