Comments - Attractive scene illustrating the five festivals celebrated annually in Japan. At right, a beauty in a flowing black kimono carries an offering tray with small gifts for the New Year Festival. Behind her, a young boy climbs on his mother's back, wearing a samurai helmet and wielding a sword made of braided iris for the Boys' Day Festival. He smiles happily as he knocks a figure of a red demon to the floor, a figure of Shoki, the Demon Queller, displayed on a low platform. In the center, a beauty and a young girl carry dolls for the Girls' Festival display. At upper left, a woman arranges flowers for the Chrysanthemum festival while the beauty seated at the low table writes out a poem slip for Tanabata. A lovely subject with wonderful detail and color, with burnishing in the black robe. This subject is illustrated on page 166 of Bruce A. Coats's recent book "Chikanobu: Images of Modernity and Nostalgia."

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 27 7/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels, backed with paper. Slight toning and soiling, a few small marks. Please see photos for details. Good overall.