Kawanabe Kyosai 河鍋 暁斎: Fan Print of Cherry Blossoms and Park

Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋 暁斎
Title: Fan Print of Court Official and Cherry Blossoms

Two formally dressed officials have crested a hill, one directing his high-ranking companion’s attention using a folded fan, most likely directing a tour of this parklike setting. They are both dressed in Edo Period garments, but we see a steamship in the distant bay. This work was meant to be pasted on to an uchiwa, or fan, for summer use. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in this beautiful park. For some reason the men seem unshod, and the man to the right is wearing very formal, long hakama (naga-bakama) trousers, which were worn by samurai when visiting the shogun or high-ranking daimyo. The dignitary to the left wears a garment with the Paulownia Seal decoration, which was the private symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family, and after the Meiji Restoration it was adopted as the emblem of the Japanese government. This work is shown on the Rijksmuseum Rijksstudio landing page for Kyosai.

SKU: KSC029S