Famous Views Along the Tokaido

Maker(s)
Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 (1831-1889)
Historical period(s)
Late Edo period or early Meiji era, late 19th century
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 32.8 x 22 cm (12 15/16 x 8 11/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift--the Elizabeth D. Woodbury collection of prints from Meiji Japan
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1999.42
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Print
Type

Woodblock print

Keywords
Elizabeth D. Woodbury collection, Japan, Late Edo period (1716 - 1868), Meiji era (1868 - 1912), WWII-era provenance
Provenance

From the 1960s to 1999
Elizabeth D. Woodbury, Japan and Alexandria, VA, purchased in Japan in the 1960s [1]

From 1999
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Elizabeth D. Woodbury in 1999

Notes:

[1] According to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Elizabeth D. Woodbury

Label

This print has the signature "Chikamaro" which was an artistic name used by Kawanabe Kyosai in his early years.  Trained under Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a prominent ukiyo-e artist, Kyosai eventually received professional training in an atelier of Kano school painters.  He became one of the most prominent painters of the Meiji era, and was invited to paint for the emperor.  This scene from a series of famous views of the Tokaido appears to be an early example of Kyosai's work.  It reflects entirely his training in traditional ukiyo-e styles, but also reveals his interest in composition, which he developed in his later paintings by making dozens of miniature and full-size studies before completing a work.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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