The Floating World Takes Shape

Torii Kiyomitsu I

Ono no Komachi Washing the Copybook

1764

Color woodblock print, 30.8 × 14 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago

The poet washes an old manuscript to foil a rival who tried to discredit her.

• Frank Lloyd Wright owned this impression before it came to the Art Institute.
• He headed the Torii actor-print school in his day.
• A water picture (mizu-e): colors printed from blocks with no black outlines, a year before full color.

Image: Art Institute of Chicago open access · CC0