{"product_id":"french-equestrian-circus-on-the-grounds-of-asakusa-kannon-temple-utagawa-kuniteru","title":"French Equestrian Circus on the grounds of Asakusa Kannon temple - Utagawa Kuniteru","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed woodblock triptych by Utagawa Kuniteru depicting a French equestrian circus performance at the Asakusa Kannon temple in 1864.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniteru captures a specific moment of cultural exchange in mid-nineteenth-century Japan. The work depicts a French equestrian troupe performing on the grounds of the Asakusa Kannon temple in Tokyo. During the Bakumatsu period, the arrival of foreign performers became a subject of fascination for the Japanese public, leading to the development of Yokohama-e, a genre of prints documenting the appearance and activities of Westerners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is a triptych, allowing for a wide, panoramic view of the circus ring. The artist employs a flattened perspective, typical of the Ukiyo-e tradition, to organise the chaotic energy of the performance. Riders are shown in various states of motion: vaulting onto horses, performing acrobatics on suspended ladders, and navigating the ring with speed. The horses themselves are rendered with a stylised anatomical approach, their forms repeating across the three panels to create a sense of continuous action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDetails such as the large wheel, the ropes, and the floral motifs integrated into the background provide a sense of the temporary structures erected for the event. The colour palette relies on distinct blocks of green, red, and brown, which serve to separate the figures from the ground. Kuniteru, a student of Utagawa Kunisada, demonstrates the technical precision required for multi-block printing, maintaining clear outlines despite the density of the scene. This print functions as a visual record of the curiosity surrounding Western entertainment in Japan, documenting the intersection of traditional Japanese printmaking techniques with the novel subject matter of the international circus.\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\/the-actor-yamanaka-heikuro-i-torii-kiyonobu-i\" 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;\"\u003eThe Actor Yamanaka Heikuro I - Torii Kiyonobu I — Torii Kiyonobu I\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bamboo-quay-by-kyobashi-bridge-utagawa-hiroshige\" 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;\"\u003eBamboo Quay by Kyōbashi Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Kuniteru","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007302828367,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007431868751,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007431901519,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007431934287,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007431967055,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007431999823,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007432032591,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007432065359,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007432098127,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007432130895,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007432163663,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007432196431,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/French-Equestrian-Circus-on-the-grounds-of-Asakusa-Kannon-temple_Poster_CompositorV1_1791169417904.jpg?v=1791169739","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/french-equestrian-circus-on-the-grounds-of-asakusa-kannon-temple-utagawa-kuniteru","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}