Craftsman by the Twelve Sign of Zodiac (19th century, Met-Objekt 4678)
Original title: Craftsman by the Twelve Sign of Zodiac
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi's nineteenth-century colour woodblock print, Handwerker beim Zwölf-Zeichen-Tierkreis, brings together twelve figures in traditional Japanese dress, each assigned to a sign of the zodiac. The sheet is printed in ink and colour on paper.
Description
Twelve figures corresponding to the zodiac signs — among them fish, ram, bull, hare, monkey, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, boar and rooster — appear in Japanese clothing. They strike various poses; some carry bundles or weapons. Strong blues and greens dominate the palette, and the light falls evenly. Crisp outlines and emphatic linework define the style; the figures hold the centre while the background stays restrained.
Context
As a leading woodblock artist of the Edo period, Utagawa Kuniyoshi produced images of heroes, animals and fantastic creatures. The print dates from the nineteenth century, when ukiyo-e prints circulated widely in Japan. The pairing of craftsmen with zodiac signs reflects Kuniyoshi's taste for humorous and symbolic portrayals of everyday life.
Impact
The bright colours and sharp contours give the sheet an immediate visual presence that draws the eye. The many figures with their symbolic attributes reward close looking and create an atmosphere that is at once playful and orderly.
Technique
Ink and colour were printed on paper for this woodblock. The process allows fine lines and flat areas of colour, clearly separated by contours. The pigments, especially blue and green, are characteristic of nineteenth-century colour woodblock prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)