Where can I see 風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu)?

風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu)?

風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu)

風船昇遥図|Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshitora. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Illustrated in 1872, this triptych of woodblock prints by Utagawa Yoshitora portrays a public gathering on a green field as several hot‑air balloons ascend into the sky. The scene captures a moment of collective attention, with spectators in contemporary attire looking upward toward the airborne craft and a parachute.

Subject & Meaning

The work documents a popular 19th‑century spectacle: the fascination with ballooning as a new technology. By showing a crowd pointing and gesturing, Yoshitora emphasizes communal curiosity and the sense of wonder that such aerial displays inspired among ordinary people.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the three panels employ traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods while rendering the scene with a realistic eye for detail. Distinctive patterns on the balloons—a simple stripe on one and a more elaborate design on another—demonstrate careful carving and a focus on visual variety.

History & Provenance

Created during the early Meiji period, the print reflects Japan’s rapid engagement with Western technology. It was produced as part of the broader market for illustrated prints that recorded contemporary events, and it remains attributed to the prolific Utagawa school.

Context

The image belongs to a wave of realism in Japanese printmaking that sought to depict modern life accurately. Ballooning, introduced to Japan in the 1860s, became a public curiosity, and prints like this served both as reportage and as popular entertainment.