Untitled

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

ca. 1844–46 · Triptych of woodblock prints; ink, silver, and color on paper · Asian Art

After governmental restrictions of the 1840s were loosened, Kuniyoshi made a sumptuous series of prints of women in the four seasons. All four of the triptychs in the series present three women with a child. This print, the best of the four, illustrates the women and a boy viewing the moon from boats. The misty clouds covering the moon are delicately depicted with light ink and silver powder (presently tarnished). Kuniyoshi included a severely cropped bridge support pole in the right border and arranged the reflection of the lantern in the waves In the cartouche at the upper right corner a poem by Genkō is inscribed "Look at that, then look up at the sky, and admire the moon with geese."

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date

ca. 1844–46

Medium

Triptych of woodblock prints; ink, silver, and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Francis M. Weld, 1948