Travelling in a Snowstorm
ca. 1830
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 7/10 x 13 5/8 in. (22.1 x 34.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
JP237
Tags
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, a...
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...