Craftsman by the Twelve Sign of Zodiac (19th century, Met-Objekt 4677)
Original title: Craftsman by the Twelve Sign of Zodiac
kurzbeschreibung
This nineteenth-century colour woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi brings together twelve figures with animal heads, each standing for one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Executed in ink and colour on paper, the sheet belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition of Japanese printmaking.
Description
Twelve human bodies, each topped with an animal head, allude to the zodiac signs. Dressed in traditional Japanese garments and caught in lively poses, some carry weapons or tools, while others appear as warriors with sword or shield. Strong colours, crisp outlines and flat areas of colour define the print. Japanese characters along the edges and in the background likely point to the meaning of the signs.
Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), a leading master of the late Edo period, was known for his inventive woodblock prints of historical and mythological subjects. The sheet dates from the nineteenth century, when interest in the zodiac signs and their artistic treatment was widespread in Japan. Kuniyoshi often produced series on the twelve signs, combining inherited iconography with humorous or unusual interpretations.
Impact
Giving the zodiac signs human form through figures with animal heads creates a mood that is both surreal and playful. The animated poses and strong colours give the sheet a lively, almost theatrical presence that draws the viewer into the layered imagery of the Edo period.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, printed from woodblocks: the design is cut into wood, the blocks are inked in different colours and pressed onto the paper in succession. The clear contours and flat colour areas are characteristic of this printing technique, which was highly developed in nineteenth-century Japan.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)