Print 1820 - 1840

This woodblock print, created between 1820 and 1840 by renowned Japanese artist Yashima Gakutei (1786-1868), depicts a scene of courtly life. A high-ranking official, likely a nobleman, stands before a group of three women kneeling before him, their elaborately patterned kimonos and formal postures suggesting a scene of respect and deference. The print's title, "The Spring Festival," alludes to the season and the subject matter of the work. The print is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.