Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

The Tanabata Festival in the Seventh Month (Fumizuki)

ca. 1765–70
Not on view
Fumizuki 文月, literally, “month of letters” refers to the seventh month of the lunar calendar. The Tanabata Festival, or Star Festival was a celebration on the seventh day of the seventh month (on July 7 in modern times) that honors the annual meeting of two star-crossed lovers, Princess Orihime and the herdboy Hikoboshi. Poems written on poetry cards were attached branches of bamboo, as sees in this pillar print (hashira-e). The bright pink color in places must be the result of modern restoration, but otherwise the condition is quite good.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 鈴木春信画 「文月」
  • Title: The Tanabata Festival in the Seventh Month (Fumizuki)
  • Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: ca. 1765–70
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: Hashira-e; 14 x 3 in. (35.6 x 7.6 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Henry L. Phillips Collection, Bequest of Henry L. Phillips, 1939
  • Object Number: JP2767
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei), Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print (first edition); ink and colors on paper, medium-sized print (chuban), Japan
Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei)
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1766
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)
Japanese
16th century
The Courtesan Konosato Writing a Letter, from the Picture Book of Beauties of Yoshiwara (Ehon Seirō bijin awase), Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
The Courtesan Konosato Writing a Letter, from the Picture Book of Beauties of Yoshiwara (Ehon Seirō bijin awase)
After Suzuki Harunobu
Probably early 20th century, after 1770 image
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armor (Gusoku)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), or The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) , Katsushika Hokusai Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan

Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), or The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830–32

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.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.