The Second Month (Ni gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)"

Art Historical Context

### The Second Month (Ni gatsu), from *Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)* Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with Utagawa Toyok I's *The Second Month*, a charming color woodblock print from series *Fashionable Twelve Months* (c. 1793). This chuban-format work (26.4 × 19.1 cm) the stylish essence of February, blending seasonal motifs with contemporary fashion trends. Toyokuni, a founding figure of the Utagawa school and master of ukiyo—"pictures of the floating world"—ights in portraying elegant women amid urban pleasures, making art accessible to everyday viewers. Ukiyo-e prints like this one revolutionized Japanese visual culture in the late 18th century. Produced through meticulous woodblock techniques, artisans carved separate blocks for each color, layering vibrant hues like reds, blues, and golds to create lifelike depth and movement. Toyokuni's bold lines and expressive poses reflect his signature bijin-ga style, celebrating beauty and transience. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece highlights how such series popularized the lunisolar calendar's rhythms through "fashionable" lenses—think plum blossoms and early spring outings. It offers a window into Japan's playful fusion of nature, style, and print innovation, inviting us to savor fleeting moments of grace. (198 words)

About the Artist

Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835

Japanese, 1777–1835