Japanese Woodblock Prints

In 1894, Alfred Pope visited Claude Monet at his home in Giverny and wrote in a letter to his friend and fellow collector, Harris Whittemore, that the artist’s dining room was “…just hung full of Japanese prints in quiet little frames.”

That same year Mr. Pope purchased nine woodblock prints. Upon moving into Hill-Stead in 1901 the prints were hung in the most private of locations, the master bedroom.

In the Pope collection are prints by many of the masters of printmaking during the Ukiyo-e period depicting the pleasures of the “floating world.” Samples from the collection follow, as well as a chronological listing of the Japanese artists and prints in Hill-Stead’s collection.

Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770)

Two Figures and a ChildTwo Figures and a Child or Woman Meeting Child Held by Servant Girl
Woodblock print, ca. 1760s
8 1/8 x 11 in. (20.6 x 28 cm)

hanurobi_actorActor with Flute (left) Actor with Falcon (right)
Woodblock prints, pair. Dates unknown
25 5/8 x 4 9/16 in. (64.3 x 11.5 cm)
25 7/8 x 4 ½ in. (65.6 x 11.4 cm)

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

Two Fish and Two CrayfishTwo Fish and Two Crayfish
From the series Fish
14 x 9 5/8 in. (35.6 x 24.9 cm)

Driving Rain at ShonoDriving Rain at Shono
Woodblock print, 1833
From the series 53 Stations on the Tokaido Road
14 x 9 5/8 in. (35.6 x 24.9 cm)

DNight View of Saruwaka Street
Woodblock print, 1856
From the series 100 Famous Views of Edo
9 7/16 x 14 1/8 in. (24 x 35.9 cm)

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

ActorsActors
Woodblock print, date unknown
Part II of triptych, all three of which are in Hill-Stead’s collection
14 ½ x 9 9/16 in. (36.8 x 24.2 cm)

Hokusai-Great-WaveUnder the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)
Woodblock print, ca. 1831
From the series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji
14 5/8 x 9 15/16 in. (37 x 25.3 cm)

Inume PassInume Pass in Kai Province
Woodblock print, ca. 1831
From the series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji
14 3/8 x 9 3/8 in. (36.5 x 23.8 cm)

Katsukawa Shun’ei (1762-1819)

Actor in Red Kimono with SwordActor in Red Kimono with Sword
Woodblock print, ca. 1790s
9 5/8 x 14 ½ in. (24.5 x 36.8 cm)

Katsushika Taito II (ca. 1810-1853)

Taito-CarpCarp Swimming in Whirlpool
Woodblock print,1853
15 ¼ x 10 ¼ in. (38.6 x 26.2 cm)

Taito-Girl-in-KimonoGirl in Kimono
Woodblock print, date unknown
14 1/8 x 6 ½ in. (35.7 x 16.5 cm)

Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806)

Three Women Three Women in the Rain or Summer Shower
Woodblock print, ca. early 1800s
Center sheet from triptych, Taking Shelter from a Sudden Summer Shower
14 1/8 x 9 in. (35.8 x 22.7 cm)

SONY DSCKneeling Lady with Fan
Woodblock print, ca. 1790s
From series Seasonal Poems Composed by Famous Women
10 7/16 x 15 3/16 in. (26.5 x 39.4 cm)

Yeisan (years unknown)

Two LoversTwo Lovers (or Shogun and Girl) Carrying Poles and Two Baskets
Woodblock print, date unknown
15 ¾ x 11 5/8 in. (40 x 29.5 cm)

All Photos by Ann Day

Complete Japanese Woodblock Print Collection at Hill-Stead Museum

(Listed Chronologically by Artist)

Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770)

  • Two Figures and a Child or Woman Meeting Child Held by Servant Girl, ca. 1760s
  • Actor with Flute, date unknown
  • Actor with Falcon, date unknown

Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806)

  • Flirtatious [or Passionate, or Wanton] Woman, ca. 1790s; from series 10 Physiognomatic Aspects of Women
  • Awabi Divers, ca. 1800, center sheet from a triptych
  • Three Women in the Rain or Summer Shower, ca. early 1800s, center sheet from triptych Taking Shelter from a Sudden Summer Shower
  • Kneeling Lady with Fan, ca. 1790s; from series Seasonal Poems Composed by Famous Women

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

  • Actors, triptych, date unknown
  • Roben Waterfalls, ca. 1831-32; from series Waterfalls of Various Provinces
  • Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave), ca. 1830-32; from series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji
  • Inume Pass in Kai Province, ca. 1831; from series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji

Katsukawa Shun’ei (1762-1819)

  • Actor in Red Kimono with Sword, ca. 1790s

Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850)

  • Nobles Composing Poem on Shipboard, or Rocks and Full Moon, date unknown

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

  • Low Tide at Shibura, ca. 1831; from series Famous Places of the Eastern Capital
  • Two Fish and Two Crayfish, ca. 1831; from series Fish
  • Driving Rain at Shono, 1833; from series 53 Stations on the Tokaido Road
  • Shinagawa Sunrise, ca. 1833-34; from series 53 Stations on the Tokaido Road
  • Nissaka, ca. 1830s; from series 53 Stations on the Tokaido Road
  • Evening Snow at Asakusa or Woman with Umbrella, date unknown; from series 8 Views of Edo
  • Night Rain at Azumasha, 1838; from series 8 Views of the Environs of Edo
  • Night View of Saruwaka Street, 1856; from series 100 Famous Views of Edo