The Tanabata Festival, from the series "Amusements of the Five Festival Days (Gosetsu asobi)" c. 1790

"The Tanabata Festival" is a woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunchō, depicting three women in traditional Japanese dress during the Tanabata festival. The print was created around 1790 as part of the series "Amusements of the Five Festival Days (Gosetsu asobi)." It depicts the festival's theme of star-crossed lovers, with the women gazing upwards at the stars, likely representing the two stars, Altair and Vega, that the festival commemorates. The print exemplifies the ukiyo-e style, which emphasized themes of everyday life and popular culture. The print is currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago.