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The Floating World

Japanese woodblock prints of the floating world: actors, courtesans, landscapes and the sea.

172 works · hang 4192 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. “Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi), by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1790
    “Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi)Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1790Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Kabuki Actor Nakamura Utaemon III as the Sword Master Kyōgoku Takumi, from the series Issei ichidai atari Kyōgen (Hits of a Lifetime of Kyōgen), by Shunkōsai Hokushū, 1825
    Kabuki Actor Nakamura Utaemon III as the Sword Master Kyōgoku Takumi, from the series Issei ichidai atari Kyōgen (Hits of a Lifetime of Kyōgen)Shunkōsai Hokushū, 1825Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; vertical oban diptych.
    Image of a Japanese Woman (Fujo Yamato sugata)Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), c. 1830/35Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 1, south wall

  1. A work made of hand-colored woodblock print; tan-e, vertical o-oban.
    Courtesan WalkingKaigetsudo Anchi, c. 1714Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of woodblock print in black ink and watercolor on cream japanese paper.
    The Priest Kobo Daishi at the Tama River in Kii Province from the series The Six Tama RiversTorii Kiyomasu, c. 1725-1735Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō, by Utagawa Hiroshige, 1835–38
    Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the KisokaidōUtagawa Hiroshige, 1835–38Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban.
    Woman About to Write a PoemYashima Gakutei, c. 1824Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    A Spring OutingSuzuki Harunobu, c. 1768Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono.
    Distant View of Mount Fuji at Dawn from HakoneUtagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1828/30Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, north wall

  1. A Courtesan, by Kitagawa Utamaro
    A CourtesanKitagawa UtamaroCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A Picture by Hishikawa Moronobu: Woman with a Set of Poem Cards, by Totoya Hokkei, mid 1820s
    A Picture by Hishikawa Moronobu: Woman with a Set of Poem CardsTotoya Hokkei, mid 1820sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    Viewing the MoonSuzuki Harunobu, c. 1767/68Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, north wall

  1. Table and Writing Set, by Kubo Shunman, 19th century
    Table and Writing SetKubo Shunman, 19th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Cherry Blossoms in the Wind, by Utagawa Toyokuni, late 1790s
    Cherry Blossoms in the WindUtagawa Toyokuni, late 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. Cherry Shell, from the series Genroku Poetry Shell Games, by Katsushika Hokusai, probably 1821
    Cherry Shell, from the series Genroku Poetry Shell GamesKatsushika Hokusai, probably 1821Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Gossips, by Suzuki Harunobu, ca. 1767
    The GossipsSuzuki Harunobu, ca. 1767Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art