Artwork preview

How to Draw Figures Simply (Jinbutsu ryakugashiki) 人物略画式

Kuwagata Keisai 鍬形蕙斎

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows an open book with two facing pages. The pages are yellowed, aged paper with darker spots and discoloration around the edges. There are two thin black lines, one horizontal line across the top and one vertical line down the middle. The left page contains 7 drawings and the right page contains 7 drawings. The drawings on both pages depict simple line drawings of people in various poses and outfits. The drawings are minimalistic and appear to be instructional. The drawings on the left page depict people in various positions from top left to bottom right: - a person with their head down and arms behind their back - a large vase with a person on top - three people gathered around something on the ground. The drawings on the right page depict people in various positions from top left to bottom right: - a person sitting on the ground - a person standing in a box - a curled up person - a person riding a bull - a person sitting on a board. The background behind the book is plain and light gray.

Artwork Details

Date
1799, early winter (Kansei 11)
Medium
Set of three woodblock printed books; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 400 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette