Mankyū

We often show Japanese prints. Some of them are part of the wider series, such as Hokusai's super-famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Time for something different—a woodcut from the Famous Restaurants of the Eastern Metropolis series (and it is not a contemporary joke)!

The series presents 50 celebrated dining establishments from the late Edo period.  Each design follows a similar format: a prominent half-length actor portrait in the foreground with landscape and still-life cartouches above that represent a popular dining establishment in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). In this print, the kabuki actor (shown in one of his stage roles) was designed by Utagawa Kunisada, while the restaurant’s entrance, its signature dishes, and the surrounding setting were rendered by Utagawa Hiroshige. This particular sheet features a restaurant known as Mankyū.

P.S. In Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai was able to fully showcase his talent. Learn all the interesting facts about this fascinating print series!  If you'd like to dive deeper into the world of Japanese art, be sure to check out our Japanese Art and Animals in Japanese Art Postcards!  :)