Yokei Tsukuri Niwa no Zu
Medium
Woodblock printed book, single volume
Dimensions
26.3 × 18.5 cm (10 3/8 × 7 5/16 in.)
Classification
book
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
154254
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with *Yokei Tsukuri Niwa no Zu* (Picture of an Eccentric Designed Garden), a captivating woodblock-printed book created by Hishikawaonobu in 1695. Moronobu (c. 1618–1694), one of the earliest masters of ukiyo-e "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated everyday life, theater, and beauty—produced this single-volume treasure, measuring a compact 26.3 × 18.5 cm. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's of Asia department, it exemplifies the artist's pioneering fusion of bold illustrations and narrative text. Moronobu played a pivotal role in...
About the Artist
Hishikawa Moronobu
Hishikawa Moronobu (1618–1694) holds an unassailable position in Japanese art history as the founder of ukiyo-e, the 'pictures of the floating world' that would become Japan's most internationally recognized art form. Born in the provincial town of Yasuda during the early Edo period, Moronobu transformed woodblock printing from a purely utilitarian craft into an independent artistic medium, establ...