Utagawa Toyokuni
Japanese, 1769–1825
Iwai Hanshirō V as Sukeroku, 1816
Color woodblock print
Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr. P.75.51.133

Fan Prints by Ukiyo-e Artists

Saturday, June 27, 2009—Sunday, October 25, 2009
Gallery 239
Free Exhibition

The prints in this gallery were designed for use in making circular, nonfolding fans (uchiwa) in the Edo period (1615-1868). After printing, when the paper had dried, the fan shape was cut out and pasted onto bamboo ribs. Although fan prints mounted in this fashion rarely survived, there remain a considerable number of intact fan prints that were never mounted. Many have small holes along their side margins, suggesting that they were bound into albums--which possibly served as sample books for prospective buyers. A number of ukiyo-e artists designed fan prints with typical ukiyo-e subjects such as beautiful women, views of famous places, and bird-and-flower themes. Portraits of actors, which obviously held great appeal for Kabuki devotees, often appeared in fan prints. Autumnal themes and snow landscapes were also popular because seeing them psychologically tempered the summer heat.