(Boys and a kite) c. 1848 - 1853

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drawing, print, paper, ink

drawing

print

asian-art

ukiyo-e

paper

ink

Dimensions: 7 3/16 x 9 3/4 in. (18.3 x 24.8 cm) (image, sheet)

This is ‘Boys and a Kite,’ a Japanese woodblock print by Yabu Chōsui, made sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The central motif is the kite itself, emblazoned with bold calligraphic characters. Kites in Japanese culture were not mere toys, but symbols of aspiration, freedom, and connection to the heavens. They carried prayers and wishes, quite literally elevating human desires to the realm of the divine. We see echoes of this sentiment across cultures; consider the winged figures of antiquity or the soaring birds in religious iconography, each representing a desire to transcend earthly bounds. Over time, the kite’s meaning shifted. It came to represent the spirit of play, yet it never fully shed its connection to something larger than life. This act of elevating a painted emblem is laden with the hopes and dreams of youth, resonating with our deepest longings for transcendence.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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Introduced from China, the custom of kite-flying became a favorite pastime for boys in Japan. By the 18th century, kite-flying developed into a favorite activity during the New Year holidays, when children were free from school work and house chores and the clear skies and breezes of early spring provided ideal conditions. The boys in this print are preparing to fly a kite that is emblazoned with the character "dragon." While the older boy in a green kimono is adjusting the strings of the kite, the other boy, presumably his younger brother is holding the kite, which is larger than he is. Chøsui's rendering of the boys aptly conveys their joy and excitement at the prospect of seeing this oversize kite high in the sky.