The Crossing of the Tanabata Boat (Tanabata no towataru fune)
c. 1715
Medium
Woodblock print; oban, sumizuri-e
Dimensions
26.7 × 38.4 cm (10 9/16 × 15 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19456
Art Historical Context
Okumura Masanobu's *The Crossing of theabata Boat (Tanabata no towatar fune)*, created around 1715, captures a whimsical moment from Japan's beloved Tanabata festival. This woodblock print depicts revelers in a boat crossing waters under the starry night sky, evoking the romantic legend of the celestial lovers Orihime and Hikob, who meet once a year across the Milky Way. Printed in the large oban format (26.7 × 38.4 cm), it belongs to the sumizuri-e style—monochromatic black ink on paper—showcasing Masanobu's mastery of subtle shading and bold lines to convey movement and festivity. As a pion...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764