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The Floating World

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

172 works · hang 87 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, 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. Grasshopper and Iris, by Katsushika Hokusai, late 1820s
    Grasshopper and IrisKatsushika Hokusai, late 1820sCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; ōban.
    Catching FirefliesEishosai Choki, c.1790sCourtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 1, south wall

  1. French Woman and Girl, from the series Foreign Merchants in Yokohama (Yokohama shōka ijin no zu), by Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide, 1st month, 1861
    French Woman and Girl, from the series Foreign Merchants in Yokohama (Yokohama shōka ijin no zu)Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide, 1st month, 1861Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A work made of page from a color woodblock-printed volume.
    The Poetess Shunzei no Musume, from the series The Thirty-six Immortal Women Poets (Nishikizuri onna sanjurokkasen)Chôbunsai Eishi, Edo period (1615–1868), 1801Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    Fireworks at Ryōgoku (Ryōgoku hanabi), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)Utagawa Hiroshige, 1858Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, south wall

  1. Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami), by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99
    Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami)Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Actor Ishikawa Danjuro V Performing a Shibaroku Act with a Drawn Sword in His Hand, by Katsukawa Shunshō, ca. 1781
    The Actor Ishikawa Danjuro V Performing a Shibaroku Act with a Drawn Sword in His HandKatsukawa Shunshō, ca. 1781Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A color woodblock print of a large crashing wave, looms over two narrow boats full of people. Mt Fuji in the background. There is a faint peach colored sky.
    Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"Katsushika Hokusai, 1830/33Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, north wall

  1. Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a Cherry, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795
    Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a CherryKitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Girl on Balcony above Stone Stairway, by Suzuki Harunobu, ca. 1768
    Girl on Balcony above Stone StairwaySuzuki Harunobu, ca. 1768Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; surimono.
    A Pine Tree and CamelliasNiwa Tokei, 1840Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, north wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    The Poetess Ono no KomachiSuzuki Harunobu, Edo period (1615–1868), 1767/68Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. 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

Section 3, south wall

  1. Tobacco Pouch and Pipe, by Kubo Shunman, 1813
    Tobacco Pouch and PipeKubo Shunman, 1813Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A Courtesan, by Kitagawa Utamaro
    A CourtesanKitagawa UtamaroCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art