Mando|子供遊に和賀　万度|Lantern Float

Art Historical Context

This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, created in the early 1800s during Japan’s Edo period, captures a lively scene of human figures and fish beneath a lantern float. Utamaro, celebrated for his ukiyo-e works that depicted everyday life with grace and observation, here turns his attention to a festive moment likely tied to children’s play and seasonal celebrations. The compact format, measuring just 9½ by 7 inches, reflects the intimate scale typical of prints meant for personal enjoyment rather than grand display. Produced through the collaborative woodblock technique—where artists, carvers, and printers worked together to layer ink and color on paper—the piece exemplifies ukiyo-e’s role in making art widely accessible to urban audiences. Such prints documented fleeting pleasures and cultural customs, preserving glimpses of Edo society’s vibrant festivals and street life. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s Asian Art collection, the work offers modern viewers a window into Japan’s rich printmaking tradition and Utamaro’s skill at blending human activity with natural motifs like fish, evoking both joy and transience.

About the Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806

Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...