New Year’s Sake c. 1810 - 1820

Yashima Gakutei created this woodblock print called "New Year's Sake." During the Edo period in Japan, of which Gakutei was a part, the cultural landscape was rich with the rise of the merchant class and a corresponding flourishing of arts and culture. Prints like this one reflect the everyday life and seasonal celebrations of the time. Here, the sake pot, adorned for the New Year, becomes a signifier of domestic festivity. A red lacquered sake cup decorated with floral motifs sits beside it. The New Year celebration was a moment of renewal, a chance to reflect on the past and usher in good fortune. The presence of sake underscores its importance in social rituals, solidifying bonds within the community. While seemingly a simple still life, this print holds a mirror up to the values of community and celebration. It makes me wonder about the hands that poured the sake, the stories shared, and the hopes raised for the year ahead.