Happy Ending
c. 1715
Medium
Woodblock print; oban yoko-e, sumizuri-e
Dimensions
27.2 × 37.8 cm (14 13/16 × 10 5/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
44110
Art Historical Context
**Happy Ending** by Okumura Masobu, created around 1715, is a woodblock print from Japan's Edo period, embodying the vibrant ukiyo-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world that celebrated everyday pleasures like theater, beauty, and romance. Masanobu, a pioneeringmaker active in Edo (modern Tokyo), helped popularize affordable art for urban audiences through innovative techniques. This *oban yoko-e* (large horizontal format, measuring 27.2 × 37.8 cm) likely depicts a theatrical or narrative scene suggesting resolution and joy, inviting viewers into the lively culture of 18th-century Japan. ...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764