The Snow Ball 1770

This is "The Snow Ball" woodblock print, created by Suzuki Harunobu in 18th century Japan. Three figures – two children and an adult – are making a snowball. The bare plum tree above them, flecked with snow and blossoms, hints at the cycle of seasons, rebirth, and the transient beauty of life. The motif of children at play, seemingly simple, bears a weighty lineage. Consider the putti of Renaissance art, often embodying divine love or youthful innocence, and how their playful energy mirrors the figures here. The collaborative act of making the snowball evokes images of communal rituals, like harvest festivals or village dances. The snowball itself, a sphere of compressed snow, resonates with the symbolism of circles representing wholeness, unity, and eternity, reflecting a universal yearning for completion. The act of creating the snowball together evokes a sense of shared joy and ephemeral existence. Like the snow itself, the moment is fleeting. The joy of playing with snow is a common, deeply ingrained experience across cultures. The cycle of the seasons and the collective joy in fleeting moments are powerful forces, connecting us to our past. They engage us on a deep, subconscious level. The symbols and iconography of this print serve as a reminder of the recurring themes of nature and shared humanity.