Boys Play-acting a Daimyo Procession
Original title: Boys Play-acting a Daimyo Procession
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this pentaptych of woodblock prints in ink and color on paper in the 19th century. It depicts children in traditional Japanese clothing imitating a solemn daimyo procession, equipped with lanterns, parasols, and musical instruments.
Description
Lanterns, parasols, and musical instruments are carried ahead by the children as they move in a line from left to right across the sheet. The layout stretches horizontally and follows the figures' procession. Behind them opens a landscape with mountains under a sunset, its light falling from the upper left and emphasizing the evening mood. Earth tones dominate the palette, with accents in blue and red providing counterpoints. Clear lines and a tightly organized sequence of figures characterize the style of traditional Japanese woodblock printing.
Context
As a prominent ukiyo-e artist of the 19th century, Kuniyoshi was known for heroic depictions, historical images, and humorous scenes. That children mimic a daimyo procession points to the fascination that the processions of feudal lords in the Edo period exerted on society. Such motifs served entertainment and showed everyday scenes with a comic touch. The pentaptych was intended for a broad audience and appeared in series.
Impact
The detailed props and the lined-up figures convey childlike joy in play. Warm earth tones and the evening landscape give the scene a nostalgic touch. Playful and ceremonial elements stand side by side, and precisely this contrast between child's play and ceremonial strictness makes the print's appeal.
Technique
The pentaptych was printed in woodblock with ink and color on paper. The process allowed precise lines and a clearly organized arrangement of figures, as is typical of the ukiyo-e style. Multiple printing passes brought the colors onto the paper, with overlapping layers creating the earth tones as well as the blue and red accents.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)