A Child Lighting Fireworks, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
Original title: A Child Lighting Fireworks, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
kurzbeschreibung
A woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro from 1801 shows a group of people in a garden, one of them lighting a firework. The sheet belongs to the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons and was printed with ink and colour on paper.
Description
In the foreground a figure in traditional Japanese dress kneels on the ground, handling a firework. Off to the side another person has settled on a bench and holds a fan; a third stands and watches. Trees and hanging branches frame the garden. Earth tones dominate the colouring, with the figures standing out in lighter accents. Daylight brings out the details of the clothing and the surroundings.
Context
Utamaro made this sheet for an illustrated book published in Edo around 1801. Such woodblock books were common in the Edo period and served both entertainment and the artistic portrayal of everyday life. Utamaro was known for depictions of women and children, whom he often placed in scenes of daily life.
Impact
The arrangement gives off a calm yet lively mood and captures the moment of the firework. Clear lines and precise rendering of the figures create the harmonious impression typical of Edo-period woodblock printing.
Technique
Executed as a woodblock print with ink and colour on paper, the process allowed fine lines and exact detail, as was usual in the Edo period. Natural colours and careful gradation of tones give the image its particular luminosity.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)