This plate is part of 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 gathers a large round-faced child doll, a small dark kokeshi-style figure and a tiny reclining doll across the open sheet.
Kyōsen drew the toys from observation and rendered them in clean woodblock line. The pale flesh and bright bib of the large doll, the lacquer black of the small figure and a few touches of red are laid in as flat colour. The cream paper holds generous space between the pieces, so each toy keeps its own room.
On a wall the plate has a tender, nursery-like calm. The big doll anchors the eye, and the smaller toys scatter around it like quiet company. It suits a child's room, a nursery, or any gentle corner of a home.
Printed on heavy fine-art paper with a soft natural-white surface. Framed editions arrive behind shatter-resistan . . . Read More >>
This plate is part of 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 gathers a large round-faced child doll, a small dark kokeshi-style figure and a tiny reclining doll across the open sheet.
Kyōsen drew the toys from observation and rendered them in clean woodblock line. The pale flesh and bright bib of the large doll, the lacquer black of the small figure and a few touches of red are laid in as flat colour. The cream paper holds generous space between the pieces, so each toy keeps its own room.
On a wall the plate has a tender, nursery-like calm. The big doll anchors the eye, and the smaller toys scatter around it like quiet company. It suits a child's room, a nursery, or any gentle corner of a home.
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 soft tones stay warm in daylight.
Frequently asked questions
What is shown in this print?
A large round-faced child doll with a small dark figure and a tiny reclining doll — a small set of folk dolls drawn from the toys themselves.
What kind of dolls are these?
They are simple folk dolls of the kind made for everyday play, including a kokeshi-style turned figure rather than formal display dolls.
Which album is this from?
It is plate Nr. 78 of Kyōsen's Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys (Kyōsen Omocha-shū), a survey of traditional folk toys.
Where does this print fit at home?
Its tender, nursery-like calm suits a child's room, a nursery, or any gentle corner of a home.
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Japan historical period: Taisho 大正 (1912-1925)
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