The Yoshiwara Niwaka Festival, Bold First Love at the Year-End Market (Seirō niwaka, toshi no ichi isamu hatsukoi)
This appears to be a performance during the Yoshiwara Niwaka Festival, held annually during the eighth month. The scene itself is set shortly before the New Year at the “year-end market,” as indicated by both the title and the seasonal decorations of pine, straw ropes and the bucket auspiciously labelled with the characters for “crane” and “tortoise.” To the left of the title are inscribed names of some of the women participating in this tableau, probably courtesans or geisha of the Yoshiwara district, reading right to left: Miyaみや, Matsuまつ, Iwaいわ, Toriとり, Shioしほ, Tsuruつる. During the Niwaka Festival it was common for female entertainers to cross-dress as men.
Artwork Details
- 栄松斎長喜画 「青樓仁和賀 年の市勇初戀」
- Title: The Yoshiwara Niwaka Festival, Bold First Love at the Year-End Market (Seirō niwaka, toshi no ichi isamu hatsukoi)
- Artist: Eishōsai Chōki (Japanese, active late 18th–early 19th century)
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: ca. 1795–99
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
- Dimensions: Vertical chūban; 13 x 8 3/4 in. (33 x 22.2 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Morris Manges, in memory of her husband, Dr. Morris Manges, 1947
- Object Number: JP3045
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Eishōsai Chōki
ca. 1790s
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1766
Eishōsai Chōki
Japanese
16th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.