The Lion Dance

1789

Not on view

In this illustration of a New Year's scene from the book "Ehon Waka Ebisu" (New Year's Day Customs), Utamaro has framed some women and children in a window as they watch a street performance of the shishimai, or lion dance. Several men form the lion, which chases after a boy, a man plays a flute while another adds to the excitement by beating two sticks together. A small boy with a frightened expression has been hoisted high for a better view out the window. Beside him a girl watches the spectacle intently, with her hand gripping a window ledge. Confining the spectators within a frame highlights their passivity and contrasts with the activity of the performers, who leap and stride across the horizontal expanse in the foreground. The concealment of their bodies reflects their psychological state, since the observers are completely absorbed in the act of watching and are not presenting themselves to be seen.

Artwork Details

Title: The Lion Dance
Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1789
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: H. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Object Number: JP961
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Kitagawa Utamaro

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“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan — “Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)
Kitagawa Utamaro
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The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
1790

Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
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In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — In the Kitchen
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ca. 1794–95

Girl Fishers and Bathers, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Girl Fishers and Bathers
Kitagawa Utamaro
1791

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