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The Floating World

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

172 works · hang 7552 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. A color woodblock print of a large crashing wave, looms over two narrow boats full of people. Mt Fuji in the background. There is a faint peach colored sky.
    Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"Katsushika Hokusai, 1830/33Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Miyako Shell, by Katsushika Hokusai, probably 1821
    Miyako ShellKatsushika Hokusai, probably 1821Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Ōtsu, from the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi, Ōtsu), 1847–52
    Ōtsu, from the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi, Ōtsu)Unrecorded Japanese maker, 1847–52Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Surface of Lake Misaka in Kai Province, by Katsushika Hokusai, early 1830s
    Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Surface of Lake Misaka in Kai ProvinceKatsushika Hokusai, early 1830sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. The Shika Teahouse, by Utagawa Toyokuni, early 1790s
    The Shika TeahouseUtagawa Toyokuni, early 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    Flower ArrangingKitao Shigemasa, c. 1769Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV in a "Shibaraku" Role, Possibly from the Play Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji (The Genji Clan Now at Its Zenith), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1768Katsukawa Shunshō, c. 1768Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Perspective Pictures for The Treasure House of Loyalty, by Kitao Masayoshi, c. 1790s
    Perspective Pictures for The Treasure House of LoyaltyKitao Masayoshi, c. 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    Lake Suwa in Shinano Province (Shinshu Suwako), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1830/33Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a Cherry, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795
    Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a CherryKitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo, by Utagawa Hiroshige, c. 1837–38
    Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of EdoUtagawa Hiroshige, c. 1837–38Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. Foreigners Enjoying a Party (Gaikokujin yūkyō no zu), by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1st month, 1861
    Foreigners Enjoying a Party (Gaikokujin yūkyō no zu)Utagawa Yoshitora, 1st month, 1861Courtesy 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

Section 3, south wall

  1. Poem by Minamoto no Muneyuki from the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse, by Katsushika Hokusai, 1835–36
    Poem by Minamoto no Muneyuki from the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the NurseKatsushika Hokusai, 1835–36Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; long surimono.
    Plants, Porcelain Bowl, and Glass GobletKatsukawa Shunshō, c. 1789Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    Two Young Women Playing Cat's CradleIsoda Koryusai, c. 1769Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago