Chrysanthemum festival, from the series Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals - Torii Kiyonaga

A classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicting a seasonal celebration with women and children, dating from the mid-1780s.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga belongs to the series titled Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi). Produced during the mid-1780s, the work captures a scene associated with the Chrysanthemum Festival, one of the five traditional seasonal celebrations in Japan. Kiyonaga was a master of the Ukiyo-e school, known for his tall, graceful figures and his ability to compose complex group scenes with clarity.

The composition features a group of women and children gathered around flowering chrysanthemum plants. One woman plays a shamisen, while another stands, holding a flowering branch aloft. The children are depicted in various states of play and observation, their expressions and postures adding a sense of movement to the scene. Kiyonaga employs a balanced arrangement, ensuring that the figures interact naturally within the pictorial space. The use of colour is restrained, relying on soft tones that complement the paper texture.

Kiyonaga's work is recognised for its departure from the more stylised, doll-like figures of his predecessors. He introduced a more realistic proportion to his subjects, which allowed for a greater sense of physical presence. The print demonstrates the technical skill involved in the Ukiyo-e process, where multiple woodblocks were carved and printed to achieve the final image. The inclusion of the chrysanthemum, a symbol of longevity and autumn, provides a thematic anchor for the print. This piece offers a glimpse into the domestic and cultural life of the Edo period, reflecting the customs and aesthetic preferences of the time. The print remains a clear example of Kiyonaga's mature style, where elegance and narrative detail are combined with technical precision.