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The Floating World

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

172 works · hang 9237 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. A work made of hand-colored woodblock print; toku-oban, urushi-e.
    Courtesan Reading a LetterIshikawa Toyonobu, c. 1745Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Three Kabuki Actors Playing Hanetsuki, by Utagawa Kuniyasu, ca. 1823
    Three Kabuki Actors Playing HanetsukiUtagawa Kuniyasu, ca. 1823Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Young Woman Looking at a Pot of Pinks, by Suzuki Harunobu, c. 1767
    Young Woman Looking at a Pot of PinksSuzuki Harunobu, c. 1767Courtesy of the Cleveland 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. A work made of color woodblock print; vertical oban diptych.
    Image of a Japanese Woman (Fujo Yamato sugata)Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), c. 1830/35Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, south wall

  1. A work made of color woodblock prints; oban triptych.
    A Windy Day under the Cherry TreesUtagawa Toyokuni, c. 1797Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Books and Cards, by Reisai, 18th–19th century
    Books and CardsReisai, 18th–19th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Kingfisher and Chinese Bellflowers, by Utagawa Hiroshige, early or mid-1830s
    Kingfisher and Chinese BellflowersUtagawa Hiroshige, early or mid-1830sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, north 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. Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei, by Tōshūsai Sharaku, 1794
    Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko EdobeiTōshūsai Sharaku, 1794Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. 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

Section 3, north wall

  1. Sugatano of Sugata Ebisuya in the Morning, Hour of the Rabbit, from the series The Twelve Hours in the Pleasure Quarters, by Kikukawa Eizan, 1812
    Sugatano of Sugata Ebisuya in the Morning, Hour of the Rabbit, from the series The Twelve Hours in the Pleasure QuartersKikukawa Eizan, 1812Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; ōban.
    Awa Province: Naruto Whirlpools (Awa, Naruto no fūha), from the series Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces (Rokujūyoshmeisho zue)Utagawa Hiroshige, 1855Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Boating Party on the Sumida River, by Torii Kiyonaga, 1789
    Boating Party on the Sumida RiverTorii Kiyonaga, 1789Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. Women Grating Radish for Sashimi, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99
    Women Grating Radish for SashimiKitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; oban triptych.
    Young man and his party crossing a stream before Mt. FujiKitagawa Utamaro, c. 1798/1800Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago