Men’s Stomping Dances (Otoko tōka) 男踏歌
Original title: Men’s Stomping Dances (Otoko tōka) 男踏歌
kurzbeschreibung
A colour woodblock print from an illustrated book by Chōbunsai Eishi, dated 1798, titled Männertanz (Otoko tōka). It shows a young woman in traditional dress seated on a bench, holding a flower; beside her stands a blossoming cherry tree. The sheet is printed in ink and colour on paper, measuring about 25.5 × 19 cm.
Description
A balanced arrangement: a female figure sits at the centre on a bench, wearing a white top and a green skirt with floral patterns; her long dark hair falls down, and her pose is calm and thoughtful. A large cherry tree enters from the left, its branches densely set with small blossoms in shades of pink and red. Hints of a pale sky and a narrow mountain in the distance convey a peaceful, idyllic mood. The palette is limited to pink, red, white and green, with the green of the clothing standing out clearly against the light background. Characters and a red seal at the lower left edge give clues to the artist or printer.
Context
Chōbunsai Eishi (1756–1829) came from the samurai class and later turned to painting and woodblock printing. This sheet belongs to an illustrated book of 1798 dealing with traditional dances — the title Männertanz already points to this. Eishi was known for his elegant depictions of women (bijin-ga) and worked in the late Edo period, when colour woodblock printing had become widespread in Japan.
Impact
The calm, symmetrical layout and the delicate pastel tones create a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. The contrast between the seated figure and the spreading cherry tree gives rise to a poetic tension that draws the viewer into the scene. Clear lines and the reduced palette feel elegant and timeless.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, printed from several woodblocks — one for each colour. The sharp contours and clear shadows are typical of this method. The colours appear opaque and precisely applied, suggesting high-quality printing.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)