New Year Decorations and Tablewares 19th century

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai created this woodblock print, New Year Decorations and Tablewares, in Japan in the early 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the rituals and material culture surrounding the celebration of the New Year. The print depicts an arrangement of objects carefully chosen for their symbolic value, reflecting the social customs of the Edo period. During this time, the rising merchant class played an increasingly important role in shaping urban culture and artistic tastes, even as they were excluded from formal institutions of power. The print features a bonsai pine tree, a kettle, and ornamented tableware, items associated with domestic life and hospitality. The detailed rendering of each object suggests a celebration of everyday life that also reflects the culture of consumption of the time. As art historians, we investigate not only the aesthetic qualities of this print but also the social conditions that gave rise to it. By examining contemporary texts, visual sources, and material objects, we can better understand the cultural values and social dynamics reflected in this seemingly simple image of New Year's preparations.