The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Splendid View at Futamigaura Bay

1854

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Triptych of color woodblock prints
Each: 36.9 x 25.4 cm (14 1/2 x 10 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Ralph King 1943.10
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The woman at the left has the word Yutaka, one of the artist's seals, on her scarf.

Description

These three prints form a continuous scene of figures visiting Futamigaura Bay near Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s most sacred places. In the background, the sun rises between the “Wedded Rocks” joined by a twisted rope, called a shimenawa, used to designate a sanctified space. The rocks mark the entrance to Futami Okitama Shrine and are said to be embodiments of Izanagi and Izanami, the gods who, according to myth, created Japan. Futamigaura was a place where pilgrims purified themselves before visiting Ise and often lodged afterwards.
  • ?–1943
    Fanny Tewksbury King [1867–1949], Cleveland Heights, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1943–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Highlights of Japanese Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 7, 2025-June 14, 2026).
    Transformations in Japanese Printmaking. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 30, 1984).
  • {{cite web|title=Splendid View at Futamigaura Bay|url=false|author=Utagawa Kuniyoshi|year=1854|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1943.10