Beauties of the Four Seasons
A full catalogue of the Ashmolean’s collection of Japanese bijinga (beautiful women) prints by Mitsuko Watanabe (published Oxford, 2005).
Publications online: 54 objects
- Reference URL
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Returning from Flower Viewing in the Third Month
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Literature notes
A beauty with a parasol returning from the flower festival which was called momo no sekku (the peach festival), walks into the wind, in front of a peach tree. Her kimono, with a design of wisteria, blows behind her.
For the Go-sekku festivals, see [EAX.4099]. -
Description
On a windy day, a woman returns from the flower festival, which was known as ‘momo no sekku’ (peach festival). The flowers in the background are peach blossom. There were five main festivals in the year, of which the 3rd March is celebrated to this day, to pray for the healthy growth of girls.
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Details
- Series
- The Five Festivals
- Associated place
- Date
- 1820 - 1848
- Artist/maker
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Keisai Eisen (1791 - 1848) (designer)
- Associated people
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Izumiya Ichibei (active 1770s - 1886) (publisher)Kansendō (active 1770s - 1886) (publisher)
- Material and technique
- nishiki-e (multi-block) woodblock print, possibly with bokashi (tonal gradation) on the sleeve, printed with water-based vegetable pigments
- Dimensions
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mount 55.9 x 40.6 cm (height x width)
print 36.7 x 25.9 cm (height x width)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented by Christ Church College, University of Oxford, 1983.
- Accession no.
- EA1983.75
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Further reading
Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 24 August-30 November 2005, Beauties of the Four Seasons, Mitsuko Watanabe, ed. (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2005), no. 38 on p. 80, illus. p. 81
Glossary (2)
nishiki-e, vegetable pigments
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nishiki-e
Nishiki-e literally means 'brocade pictures' and refers to multi-coloured woodblock prints.
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vegetable pigments
Vegetable pigments were used to create coloured dyes for Japanese prints, paintings, and textiles. These pigments often faded over time due to the chemical reactions they underwent.
Location
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- currently in research collection
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
Publications online
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Beauties of the Four Seasons
A beauty with a parasol returning from the flower festival which was called momo no sekku (the peach festival), walks into the wind, in front of a peach tree. Her kimono, with a design of wisteria, blows behind her.
For the Go-sekku festivals, see [EAX.4099].
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
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