Ochre Editions
SearchSign inCart (0)

The Floating World

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

172 works · hang 2354 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. Tobacco Pouch and Pipe, by Kubo Shunman, 1813
    Tobacco Pouch and PipeKubo Shunman, 1813Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Segawa Tomisaburō II as Yadorigi in the Play "Hana Ayame Bunroku Soga", by Tōshūsai Sharaku, 1794
    Segawa Tomisaburō II as Yadorigi in the Play "Hana Ayame Bunroku Soga"Tōshūsai Sharaku, 1794Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. Vehicles on the Streets of Tokyo, by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1870
    Vehicles on the Streets of TokyoUtagawa Yoshitora, 1870Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Collection of Desires, Wish for Foreign Travel (Mitate Tai zukushi-yōkō ga shitai), by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, January, 1878
    Collection of Desires, Wish for Foreign Travel (Mitate Tai zukushi-yōkō ga shitai)Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, January, 1878Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "Comparing the Charms of Five Beauties (Gonin bijin aikyo kurabe)"Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1795/96Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    The actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Osan, Ippei’s elder sisterTōshūsai Sharaku, 1794Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Kametani Jujiro as the Shirabyoshi Dancer Yuya, by Torii Kiyomitsu, c. early 1760s
    Kametani Jujiro as the Shirabyoshi Dancer YuyaTorii Kiyomitsu, c. early 1760sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. The Actor Morita Kanya VIII as Tatsugorō, by Katsukawa Shun'ei, 1794 (Kansei 6)
    The Actor Morita Kanya VIII as TatsugorōKatsukawa Shun'ei, 1794 (Kansei 6)Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Two Girls on a Veranda beside a Stream with the Moon, by Suzuki Harunobu
    Two Girls on a Veranda beside a Stream with the MoonSuzuki HarunobuCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; oban triptych.
    Picture of Men and Women from Many Countries (Bankoku danjo jinbutsu zue)Utagawa Yoshiiku, 1861Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Cherry Blossoms in the Wind, by Utagawa Toyokuni, late 1790s
    Cherry Blossoms in the WindUtagawa Toyokuni, late 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. Cherry Shell, from the series Genroku Poetry Shell Games, by Katsushika Hokusai, probably 1821
    Cherry Shell, from the series Genroku Poetry Shell GamesKatsushika Hokusai, probably 1821Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A View of the Large New Room at Sakurai, by Utagawa Kunisada, early or mid 1830s
    A View of the Large New Room at SakuraiUtagawa Kunisada, early or mid 1830sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. Courtesans at Leisure from the series The Six Immortal Poets, by Katsukawa Shunzan, early 1780s
    Courtesans at Leisure from the series The Six Immortal PoetsKatsukawa Shunzan, early 1780sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 4, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    Two Young Women Playing Cat's CradleIsoda Koryusai, c. 1769Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    The actor Ichikawa Omezo as the manservant IppeiTōshūsai Sharaku, 1794Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago