The Brazier of Elegance and the Bell of Damnation (Fuga hibachi muken no kane)
c. 1739/40
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; oban, beni-e
Dimensions
32.7 × 45.7 cm (12 7/8 × 18 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110781
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Okumura Masanobu's *The Brazier ofance and the Bell ofation* (c. 1739/40) captures the playful yet profound spirit of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating." This hand-colored woodblock print, as *beni-e* (crimson pictures), showcases Masanobu's innovative early color techniques, using beni (synthetic red pigment) applied by hand to create subtle, glowing hues on the large oban format (32.7 × 45.7 cm). As a pioneer of ukiyo-e, Masanobu bridged single-color prints and the later full-color *nishiki-e*, blending beauty with subtle moral undert...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764