Sumo-e
相撲絵
Prints depicting sumo wrestlers, who were celebrity athletes of the Edo period. These prints documented famous matches, champion wrestlers, and ceremonial aspects of sumo.
Related Terms
Sabi
寂
An aesthetic concept embracing the beauty of imperfection, transience, and the patina of age. While more associated with ceramics and gardens, sabi influenced the appreciation of subtle, atmospheric effects in prints.
Sanmaitsuzuki
三枚続
A triptych—three sheets designed as a continuous composition. Triptychs allowed artists to create panoramic landscapes, multi-figure scenes, and dramatic battle compositions on a grand scale.
Seal
印
Red stamps appearing on prints that identify the artist, publisher, carver, and (in later periods) censor. Reading seals is essential for authentication, dating, and understanding a print's production history.