Young man and his party crossing a stream before Mt. Fuji
c. 1798/1800
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban triptych
Dimensions
Overall: 38.9 × 76 cm (15 3/8 × 29 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23715
Art Historical Context
In this vibrant color woodblock print triptych, titled *Young Man and His Party Crossing a Stream Before. Fuji*, Kitagawaamaro captures a dynamic moment of travel and natural beauty around 1798–1800. The scene unfolds across three large oban sheets, depicting a stylish young man and his entourage navigating a shallow stream with Mount Fuji looming majestically in the background. Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, infuses the composition with his signature elegance blending human figures with the sublime landscape in a harmonious tableau. As a pionee...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...