View of Mt. Asama from the Usui Pass
ca. 1850
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm); W. 14 1/16 in. (35.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1922
Accession Number
JP1423
Tags
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi *View of Mt. As from the Usui Pass (ca. 1850) captures the dramatic majesty of Japan's Mount Asama as seen from the rugged Usui Pass, a travel route linking Edo (modern Tokyo) to the interior. This woodblock print, a of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, showcases Kuniyoshi's mastery late-career landscapes. Known primarily for his dynamic warrior prints and whimsical depictions of animals, the artist here shifts to nature's grandeur, blending towering peaks, misty trees, and expansive skies in a serene yet awe-inspiring vista. Printed with vibrant inks...
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...