The Eighth Month (Hachi gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)"

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Utagawa Toyokuni (1769–1825) captured the fleeting pleasures of urban life through his ukiyo-e woodblock prints—"pictures of the floating world."The Eighth Month (Hachi gatsu)*, created around 1793, hails from his series *Fashionable Twelve Months (Fu junikagetsu)*, a charming set evoking seasonal elegance and contemporary fashion. Each print likely showcases beauties or scenes tied to the lunar calendar's eighth month (late summer), reflecting festivals like Obon or the sultry allure of August leisure. Toyokuni's mastery shines in this chuban-format color woodblock print (25.7 × 19.1 cm), a popular, affordable size for collectors. Artisans carved intricate blocks for each color layer—up to a dozen—yielding bold hues and precise details that brought Edo's theater stars and stylish women to life. As a founder of the influential Utagawa school, Toyokuni elevated bijin-ga (images of beautiful women) and yakusha-e (actor portraits), making high art accessible. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece offers a window into Japan's print culture boom, blending artistry with everyday glamour.

About the Artist

Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835

Japanese, 1777–1835