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Edo Tie-dye
Keisai Eisen, born 1790 - died 1848 - Enlarge image
Edo Tie-dye
- Object:
Woodblock print
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
1826-1830 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Keisai Eisen, born 1790 - died 1848 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Woodblock print
- Museum number:
E.12958-1886
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Eisen was particularly noted for his depictions of beautiful women. Prints of this kind served as the fashion pages of their day, admired as much for the beauty of the kimono depicted as for the grace of the women that wore them. Here Eisen shows a woman in elegant attire making a visit to a shrine on New Year's day.
It is still the tradition in Japan to visit a Shintô shrine on the first day of the year. Shintô is the native religion of Japan and its shrines are easily recognised by their eye-catching red gates. This 'first shrine visit' is known as Hatsumôde. Families and individuals queue at popular shrines to pray for the coming year and purchase charms.
