Portrait of Yato Fumoshichi Norikane
Original title: Portrait of Yato Fumoshichi Norikane
kurzbeschreibung
This colour woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi dates from 1852–53. It shows a man in traditional Japanese dress, wearing a hat and carrying a sword hilt, against a backdrop that includes written characters and a lantern stand. The image is printed in ink and colour on paper.
Description
A black hat covers the head, and beneath it a white cap appears; the hair is combed back at the sides. The man's expression is grave and thoughtful. In his right hand he holds a sword hilt, rendered with great precision. Behind the figure stands a red signboard bearing Chinese characters, and to its right a lantern stand decorated with floral motifs. Dark tones dominate the palette, with accents of red and blue, and the layout is clearly organised around the central figure.
Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi ranks among the major masters of nineteenth-century ukiyo-e woodblock printing. This portrait was made during the Edo period, when Kuniyoshi was especially known for his images of historical heroes and actors. Yato Fumoshichi Norikane was presumably a samurai or a historical figure, whose identity is given by the signboard behind him. Such portraits often appeared as single sheets or in series and were very popular with the urban public.
Impact
The print conveys a dignified, serious mood, carried by the dark tones and the sitter's pensive gaze. Crisp outlines and a restrained palette draw attention to the figure and his attributes. The result is a calm, concentrated effect.
Technique
The work was produced as a woodblock print in ink and colour on paper, a process typical of Japanese ukiyo-e. The sharp contours and flat areas of colour come from printing with wooden blocks, with a separate block used for each colour. At roughly 37.1 cm high and 25.1 cm wide, the sheet corresponds to the ōban format, a common standard for single prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)