「花模様 安永頃」

A second entry from Kiyochika's 「花模様」 series documenting the An'ei era (1772–1781), this print presents an alternate floral pattern design characteristic of the same late-Edo period. The An'ei era coincided with the work of Kitao Masanobu and the generation following Suzuki Harunobu, a period in which the palette of nishiki-e printmaking had expanded considerably and textile design reflected an urbane sophistication among Edo's merchant class. The pattern rendered here likely features a distinct floral arrangement or colorway from its companion print bearing the same era designation, together offering a comparative view of the design vocabulary available to artisans of the period. The series reflects Kiyochika's range beyond his celebrated atmospheric Tokyo views into more scholarly, documentation-oriented printmaking that traces the history of Japanese decorative pattern design.