This sheet from Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys by Kawasaki Kyosen (1877–1942) centres on a large flowering toy — a layered chrysanthemum or peony bloom in cream and pink rising from a slender stand — with a small kimono-clad doll resting on a red lacquer disc at its base. Flower toys of this kind belonged to seasonal play and festival display.
Kyosen worked as an omocha-e artist, recording folk toys in the woodblock manner. He drew the bloom from observation and printed it in soft, layered petals so the form keeps its volume while staying flat and graphic. The pale ground and the single tall object give the plate an upright, almost botanical poise.
On a wall the print brings a soft, spring-like note. Its vertical shape suits a narrow space — between windows, beside a doorway, or above a side table — and the muted pink and cream settle easily into calm, light interiors.
Offered as an unframed print on thick matte paper, framed behind shatte . . . Read More >>
This sheet from Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys by Kawasaki Kyosen (1877–1942) centres on a large flowering toy — a layered chrysanthemum or peony bloom in cream and pink rising from a slender stand — with a small kimono-clad doll resting on a red lacquer disc at its base. Flower toys of this kind belonged to seasonal play and festival display.
Kyosen worked as an omocha-e artist, recording folk toys in the woodblock manner. He drew the bloom from observation and printed it in soft, layered petals so the form keeps its volume while staying flat and graphic. The pale ground and the single tall object give the plate an upright, almost botanical poise.
On a wall the print brings a soft, spring-like note. Its vertical shape suits a narrow space — between windows, beside a doorway, or above a side table — and the muted pink and cream settle easily into calm, light interiors.
Offered as an unframed print on thick matte paper, framed behind shatter-resistant acrylic, or as a satin-coated cotton canvas, each true to the gentle colour and hand-cut line of the original sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main subject?
A large flowering toy — a layered chrysanthemum or peony bloom on a stand — with a small kimono doll at its base, drawn as a folk plaything.
What kind of print is this?
A woodblock omocha-e, a picture of toys, from Kawasaki Kyosen's album recording Japanese folk toys.
Who was the artist?
Kawasaki Kyosen (1877–1942), who documented the country's folk toys in the woodblock tradition in the early twentieth century.
Where does this vertical print fit?
Its upright shape suits narrow spaces — between windows, beside a doorway or above a side table — and its soft palette suits light, calm rooms.
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Japan historical period: Taisho 大正 (1912-1925)
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