{"product_id":"women-on-a-boat-at-new-year-imitating-the-seven-gods-of-good-fortune-utagawa-toyokuni-i","title":"Women on a boat at New Year imitating the Seven Gods of Good Fortune - Utagawa Toyokuni I","description":"\u003cp\u003eA traditional Japanese woodblock triptych depicting women dressed as the Seven Gods of Good Fortune aboard a treasure ship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis triptych by Utagawa Toyokuni I presents a playful interpretation of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin). During the Edo period, it was common for citizens to engage in mitate-e, a form of parody or visual pun where contemporary figures adopted the guises of historical, literary, or mythological characters. Here, women are depicted aboard a treasure ship, assuming the roles of the deities who traditionally bring prosperity and luck at the start of the new year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition spans three sheets, creating a wide view of the vessel as it navigates stylised waves. The figures are dressed in the elaborate robes associated with the gods, holding their characteristic attributes, such as the mallet of Daikokuten or the fan of Hotei. The inclusion of a crane in the sky and a turtle in the water adds layers of auspicious symbolism, as both animals represent longevity in Japanese culture. The artist employs a clear, graphic line quality typical of the Ukiyo-e tradition, balancing the figures with the decorative elements of the boat and the surrounding water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToyokuni I was a master of the Utagawa school, known for his ability to capture the theatricality of the period. This work demonstrates his skill in managing complex multi-panel compositions while maintaining a sense of narrative cohesion. The muted colour palette, typical of early nineteenth-century woodblock printing, allows the viewer to focus on the expressive gestures and the humorous nature of the masquerade. The print functions as both a celebration of the festive season and a clever commentary on the social habits of Edo-era society, where the boundaries between the divine and the mundane were frequently blurred for the sake of entertainment and cultural engagement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/flowers-of-a-hundred-worlds-momoyogusa-nakaguni-kamisaka-sekka\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFlowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Nakaguni - Kamisaka Sekka — Kamisaka Sekka\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/one-hundred-poems-by-one-hundred-poets-in-eastern-brocade-katsukawa-shunsho\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eOne Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets in Eastern Brocade - Katsukawa Shunshō — Katsukawa Shunshō\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Toyokuni I","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983551271247,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983589413199,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983589445967,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58983589478735,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58983589511503,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58983589544271,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58983589577039,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58983589609807,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58983589642575,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58983589675343,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58983589708111,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58983589740879,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Women-on-a-boat-at-New-Year-imitating-the-Seven-Gods-of-Good-Fortune_Poster_CompositorV1_1790925341760.jpg?v=1790925949","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/women-on-a-boat-at-new-year-imitating-the-seven-gods-of-good-fortune-utagawa-toyokuni-i","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}