Three Sake Tasters c. 1710

"Three Sake Tasters" is a 1710 black and white woodblock print by the renowned Japanese artist Okumura Masanobu. The print depicts three figures gathered around a large sake barrel, with one using a long, thin stick to stir the liquid inside. The scene likely depicts the popular custom of sake tasting, a common social activity in Edo-era Japan. Masanobu’s expressive brushstrokes, detailed in the figures’ clothing and the swirling patterns of the sake, bring this engaging scene to life. The print is currently held by the Minneapolis Institute of Art.