Myriad Birds: Picture Book of Playful Verse (Momo chidori kyōka-awase)
Original title: Myriad Birds: Picture Book of Playful Verse (Momo chidori kyōka-awase)
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro brought out this two-volume illustrated woodblock book in 1791, printed in ink and colour on paper. What we see is the cover, its title set in calligraphy. Inside, the volumes pair comic kyōka verse with pictures of birds.
Description
A vertical band runs down the middle of the cover and carries the title in traditional Japanese calligraphy. Browns dominate the colour scheme, as is usual for woodblock work. A fine grain spreads across the surface, making both paper and printing block tangible. A small label in the upper left reads 'No.43. MOMO CHIDORI UTAMARO'.
Context
Utamaro was one of the defining ukiyo-e artists of the late eighteenth century. The book belongs to the Edo period, an age of cultural ferment and lively urban entertainment. Kyōka, playful and often ironic poems, were then much loved by writers and artists alike. Woodblock book printing meant that such work reached a wide public.
Impact
The restrained, earthy palette and the fine surface texture give the sheet something tactile and intimate. The calligraphic title lends the book a dignified, artistic presence. Image and poetry come together here in a way that feels completely coherent.
Technique
The book was printed by woodblock, with ink and colour laid on the paper. Colour woodblock printing allowed for subtle gradations and nuanced textures. The volumes measure 10 x 14 7/8 inches and open out to 29 3/4 inches.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)