Floor plan

North wing: East AsiaThe Floating World

The Floating World

A work made of color woodblock print; long surimono.
A Girl Writing a Letter, by Suzuki Harunobu, 18th century
A work made of color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban.
Scene from a Play, by Katsukawa Shunjō, ca. 1780
A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

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

Section 1, north wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; long surimono.
    Plants, Porcelain Bowl, and Glass GobletKatsukawa Shunshō, c. 1789Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A Girl Writing a Letter, by Suzuki Harunobu, 18th century
    A Girl Writing a LetterSuzuki Harunobu, 18th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban.
    Woman About to Write a PoemYashima Gakutei, c. 1824Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 1, south wall

  1. Scene from a Play, by Katsukawa Shunjō, ca. 1780
    Scene from a PlayKatsukawa Shunjō, ca. 1780Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    A Spring OutingSuzuki Harunobu, c. 1768Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; chuban.
    Delaying the announcement of dawnSuzuki Harunobu, c. 1767/68Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, south wall

  1. Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu), by Utagawa Yoshitora, November, 1872
    Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu)Utagawa Yoshitora, November, 1872Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Doll Festival, Third Day of the Third Month, by Kubo Shunman, 19th century
    The Doll Festival, Third Day of the Third MonthKubo Shunman, 19th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Screen and Utensils for the Incense Ceremony, by Kubo Shunman, 19th century
    Screen and Utensils for the Incense CeremonyKubo Shunman, 19th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. 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
  2. Kinryūsan Temple at Asakusa, from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo", by Utagawa Hiroshige, 1856
    Kinryūsan Temple at Asakusa, from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo"Utagawa Hiroshige, 1856Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; uchiwa-e.
    Iwai Kumesaburo II as the Courtesan Takao in Banzei Okuni KabukiUtagawa Kunisada, c. 1827Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, north wall

  1. Boating Party on the Sumida River, by Torii Kiyonaga, 1789
    Boating Party on the Sumida RiverTorii Kiyonaga, 1789Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Chushingura: Act I (from the series Perspective Pictures for The Treasure House of Loyalty), by Kitao Masayoshi, c. 1790s
    Chushingura: Act I (from the series Perspective Pictures for The Treasure House of Loyalty)Kitao Masayoshi, c. 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock print; ōban.
    Plum Garden at Kameido (Kameido Umeyashiki), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. England (Igirisukoku), by Utagawa Yoshitora, 2nd month, 1865
    England (Igirisukoku)Utagawa Yoshitora, 2nd month, 1865Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art