The Sixth Month (Roku gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)"
c. 1793
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
26.4 × 19.1 cm (10 3/8 × 7 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24356
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769–1825), a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, created *The Sixth Month (Roku gatsu)* around 1793 as part of his series *Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyuikagetsu)*. This charming color woodblock print, in the compact chuban format (264 × 19.1 cm), captures the elegance of Edo-period Japan, showcasing Toyokuni's flair for depicting beautiful women (bijin-ga) in contemporary fashions. As a leading figure in the Utagawa school, Toyokuni was renowned for his vibrant kabuki actor portraits and scenes of urban life, blending realism with stylized beauty. Printed during the late ...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835