Portraits of Twenty-eight Metal Artists
In this print, Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政, 1739–1820), an artist of the ukiyo-e genre (known for woodblock prints and paintings), portrays twenty-eight of the most influential sword-fitting makers of the Edo period (1615–1868). Sitting at the top of this imaginary gathering is Yokoya Somin (横谷宗珉, 1670–1733), who is celebrated for his role as initiator of a movement that ushered in a renaissance of the craft. The way Somin is highlighted in terms of position, size, and frontal view, with the other artists arranged in a circle, can be interpreted as an allusion to spiritual mandalas that feature buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Artwork Details
- Title: Portraits of Twenty-eight Metal Artists
- Artist: Kitao Shigemasa (Japanese, 1739–1820)
- Date: ca. 1615–1868
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 20 1/8 × 14 1/4 in. (51.1 × 36.2 cm)
- Classification: Works on Paper-Prints
- Object Number: ARMS.ARMS.2021.1
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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