This plate opens Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys, the woodblock album in which Kawasaki Kyōsen (1877–1942) recorded the folk playthings of old Japan. As an omocha-e, a toy picture, it shows a standing court lady-doll in a blue-to-red kimono with floral hair ornaments, smaller ornament dolls beside her, and a reclining baby-doll with a red toy below.
Kyōsen drew the toys from observation and cut them as a woodblock. The graded blue and red of the kimono, the black of the elaborate hair and the touches of pink blossom are laid in as flat, even colour. The standing doll holds the upper sheet while the little figures gather below, so the group reads as a single quiet display.
On a wall the plate has a graceful, ceremonial calm. The court lady and her companions recall a doll display kept and cherished in the home. It suits a bedroom, a hallway, or a calm corner that favours an elegant, settled subject.
Printed on heavy fine-art paper w . . . Read More >>
This plate opens Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys, the woodblock album in which Kawasaki Kyōsen (1877–1942) recorded the folk playthings of old Japan. As an omocha-e, a toy picture, it shows a standing court lady-doll in a blue-to-red kimono with floral hair ornaments, smaller ornament dolls beside her, and a reclining baby-doll with a red toy below.
Kyōsen drew the toys from observation and cut them as a woodblock. The graded blue and red of the kimono, the black of the elaborate hair and the touches of pink blossom are laid in as flat, even colour. The standing doll holds the upper sheet while the little figures gather below, so the group reads as a single quiet display.
On a wall the plate has a graceful, ceremonial calm. The court lady and her companions recall a doll display kept and cherished in the home. It suits a bedroom, a hallway, or a calm corner that favours an elegant, settled subject.
Printed on heavy fine-art paper with a soft natural-white surface. Framed editions arrive behind shatter-resistant acrylic in a slim wooden moulding; the canvas option is a satin-coated cotton weave. The blue and red stay soft and clear in daylight.
Frequently asked questions
What is shown in this print?
A standing court lady-doll in a blue-to-red kimono with floral hair ornaments, smaller ornament dolls beside her and a reclining baby-doll with a red toy below — drawn from the actual playthings.
What kind of dolls are these?
They are folk court dolls of the kind displayed and played with in the home, the standing lady recalling the elegant figures of a doll set.
Which album is this from?
It is plate Nr. 1, the opening sheet, of Kyōsen's Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys (Kyōsen Omocha-shū), a record of traditional folk toys.
Where does this print fit at home?
Its graceful, ceremonial calm suits a bedroom, a hallway, or a calm corner with an elegant subject.
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Japan historical period: Taisho 大正 (1912-1925)
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