小倉擬百人一首|Album of Eighty-eight Prints from the series Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Ogura nazorae hyakunin isshu)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite album, *Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems One Hundred Poets* (ura nazorae hyakunin isshu), brings together the talents of three ukiyo-e masters: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hirosh, and Utagawa Kunisada. Created around 1845–48 during Japan's Edo period (1615–8), it comprises 88 vibrant woodblock prints in ink color on paper, bound into a compact album measuring 14 × 9¼ × 1 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department since a 1894 gift, it exemplifies the "floating world" style—ukiyo-e's celebration of everyday beauty, drama, and heroism. Inspired by the revered *Ogura Hyakunin Isshu*, a 13th-century anthology of 100 waka poems by 100 classical poets, this series imaginatively illustrates (or "imitates") the verses through dynamic scenes. Expect vivid depictions of human figures—often warriors wielding swords—in fantastical or historical vignettes that capture the poems' emotional essence. Woodblock printing, a revolutionary technique, allowed for bold colors, intricate details, and affordable dissemination, making high art accessible to all. This rare collaboration highlights ukiyo-e's peak, blending poetry's timeless elegance with popular visual storytelling. It offers a window into Edo Japan's cultural fusion of literature and printmaking, where swords symbolize valor amid poetic reverie. A true gem for lovers of Japanese artistry!

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi|Utagawa Hiroshige|Utagawa Kunisada · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...