Inari-ko|The Second Month
ca. 1767
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 10 in. (25.4 cm); W. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Accession Number
JP850
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Inari-ko (The Second Month)** by Ishikawa Toyomasa created around 1767, is a woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868). Measuring just 10 by 7⅜ inches, this intimate ink and color on paper work captures a lively moment likely tied to the second lunar month, evoking spring festivals like Setsubun or Inari celebrations honoring the rice deity with fox messengers. Toyomasa, a ukiyo-e known for vibrant depictions of festivals, children, and daily life, showcases boys energetically drumming—symbols of youthful exuberance and communal joy in urban Edo (modern Tokyo). Woodblock printing, ...