和歌夷|The Young God Ebisu (Waka ebisu) 和歌夷
Medium
Woodblock printed book; ink, color, and brass dust on paper
Dimensions
11 5/16 × 7 3/8 in. (28.7 × 18.7 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013
Accession Number
2013.853
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with Kitagawa Utamaro's *The Young God EbisuWaka ebisu)*, created in 1789. This enchanting woodblock print from an illustrated book captures the youthful form of Ebisu, one of the beloved Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) in Japanese folklore. Known as the patron deity of fishermen, merchants, and prosperity, thewaka" or young Ebisu is often depicted with playful charm, embodying good fortune and abundance. Utamaro, a of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), infuses the scene with dynamic figures—men, women, and even horses—highlighting ever...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 (Japanese) · 1754 –1806
Japanese, ca. 1754–1806