The Promenade
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 3/8 in. (39.1 cm); W. 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1719
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with *The Promenade* by Torii Kiyonaga (1752–1815), a masterful woodblock print from the late 18th century. This ink and color on paper work, measuring 15 3/8 x 10 15/16 inches, captures women strolling gracefully, embodying the ukiyo-e tradition of "pictures of the floating world"—ephemeral scenes of urban leisure and beauty. Kiyonaga, a leading figure in the Torii school, excelled in *bijin-ga* (images of beautiful women), portraying them with elongated, flowing figures and delicate poise that reflect the refined tastes of Japan's merchant clas...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815
Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...