Activities of the Twelve Months 1796 - 1799

"Activities of the Twelve Months" is a series of twelve handscroll paintings by Sakai Hōitsu from the late 18th century. This particular scroll depicts a scene from the 11th month, showcasing the ritual "Tsukiya" or "moon viewing" in which people gather to admire the full moon. It shows a group of men in black robes gathered in front of a structure, while a figure in red stands on a platform, likely representing the emperor, participating in the tradition. These scrolls, executed in the *yamato-e* style, were commissioned by the powerful Maeda clan and are now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.