Hishikawa Moronobu — After a Little Music

An early ukiyo-e woodblock in a single sumi-black line, carved by the father of the form.

The document

A sumizuri-e woodblock, c. 1673, printed in one black key-line before colour entered the medium. Reproduced faithfully from the impression at the Art Institute of Chicago.

About the artist

Hishikawa Moronobu (c. 1618–1694) is called the father of ukiyo-e — the first to sign his prints and lift the “floating world” into an art of its own.

The print

Printed to order and made to last. Choose Museum Matte (heavyweight matte art paper) or Fine Art Giclée (Hahnemühle cotton paper — the archival standard). The Métrica museum caption — artist, title, date and source — is printed as part of the piece, set in our house type. Free US shipping on two or more pieces.

Hishikawa Moronobu · After a Little Music, sumizuri-e woodblock · c. 1673 · Art Institute of Chicago · Accession 1973.645.5 · Public domain.

Theme: Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print by Hishikawa Moronobu.