Travelling in a Snowstorm

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Kuniyoshi *Travelling in a Snowstorm*, created around 1830 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the vibrant world of ukiyo-e woodblock. As a leading figure in this "pictures of the floating world" genre, Kunoshi was renowned for his dynamic compositions, blending landscapes, figures, and fantasy. This intimate print, measuring just 8 7/10 x 13 5/8 inches, uses ink and color on paper to capture a serene yet challenging winter journey, with houses and snow-laden trees framing the scene. The woodblock technique—carving intricate designs into wooden blocks, layering colors, and printing by hand—allowed for Kuniyoshi's masterful depiction of swirling snow and atmospheric depth. Edo-period prints like this were affordable art for the masses, reflecting everyday life amid nature's beauty and harshness. Snow in Japanese art often evokes wabi-sabi, the aesthetic of impermanence, turning a mundane trek into a poetic meditation. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1918, this work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection highlights Kuniyoshi's skill in evoking emotion through subtle gradients and bold contrasts, inviting viewers to feel the chill and quiet resolve of travel in a blizzard.

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...