Picture Book of Amusements of the Eastern Capital (Ehon Azuma asobi)
Original title: Picture Book of Amusements of the Eastern Capital (Ehon Azuma asobi)
kurzbeschreibung
An illustrated woodblock-printed book by Kitagawa Utamaro, printed in ink on paper in 1790. The cover shows the title in Japanese script and two stylized birds in flight, distinguished by their simple forms.
Description
On the left side of the cover, the title of the work appears in traditional Japanese characters. Two stylized birds in flight, reduced to a few lines, occupy the middle of the cover. The prevailing gray tones point to the use of ink in the woodblock print. The surface of the cover shows signs of age and weathering, underscoring the book's historical origin.
Context
Kitagawa Utamaro ranks among the outstanding ukiyo-e artists of late eighteenth-century Japan. The book was made during the Edo period, an era of cultural flourishing and lively urban entertainment culture. As a so-called ehon, an illustrated book, it was a widespread medium of the time. The book's colophon records the date as the first month of 1790.
Impact
The plain, graphic design of the cover with the flying birds radiates calm and elegance. Through the gray tones, the image acquires a restrained, almost monochrome aesthetic that draws the eye to the linework.
Technique
The book was produced by the woodblock printing method, in which ink is applied to paper. The cover view reveals the typical printing technique with clear lines and flat areas of color. Measuring 22 × 15.8 cm, the work has a handy pocket-book format.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)