The Seventh Month (Shichi gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)" c. 1793

"The Seventh Month (Shichi gatsu)" is a woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I, part of his popular "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)" series. Created around 1793, this print depicts a woman in traditional Japanese dress, adorned with elaborate accessories. The print's vibrant colors, meticulous detail, and playful depiction of everyday life reflect the aesthetic of ukiyo-e, the popular art of the Edo period, which aimed to capture the fleeting beauty of the world. The woman is shown interacting with bamboo, a symbol of the seventh month, highlighting the connection between nature and human experience. The print, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a cherished example of Toyokuni I's mastery of the woodblock print technique.