High resolution woodblock prints from Toshikata Mizuno's Thirty-six Elegant Selections series

Thirty-six Elegant Selections (三十六佳撰) is a series of Japanese woodblock prints done by Toshikata Mizuno that were issued from 1891 to 1894, featuring women from different time periods of Japanese history but mostly from the Edo Period (1615-1868).

Toshikata Mizuno (1866-1908) was a Japanese woodblock print artist and teacher during the Meiji era. He began his training in woodblock printing at the age of 14 with Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, one of the greatest woodblock print artists of Japan. Among Misuno’s most famous works are a series of triptychs depicting battle scenes from the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 to 1895.

These five high-resolution images were digitized from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

On the Road, A Lady of the Genkō Era (1313-34)


On the Road, A Lady of the Genko Era (1313-34) High resolution 4,718 x 6,926px

Chasing Fireflies, A Lady of the Tenmei Era (1781-1789)


Chasing Fireflies, A Lady of the Tenmei Era (1781-1789) High resolution 4,749 x 6,912px

The Fourth Month, A Lady of the Enkyō Era (1744-48)


The Fourth Month, A Lady of the Enkyō Era (1744-48) High resolution 4,717 x 6,966px

A Puppet Made from a Bucket, A Lady of the Enpō Era (1673–1681)


A Puppet Made from a Bucket, A Lady of the Enpō Era (1673–1681) High resolution 4,664 x 6,956px

Playing the Koyo, A Lady from Nagoya of the Kōka Era (1844-48)


Playing the Koyo, A Lady from Nagoya of the Kōka Era (1844-48) High resolution 4,702 x 6,943px