Tea Pickers c. 1830 - 1844

print, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

print

japan

personal sketchbook

ink

color-on-paper

pen-ink sketch

ink colored

pen work

sketchbook drawing

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

sketchbook art

watercolor

"Tea Pickers" is a woodblock print from the Edo period, dated c. 1830–1844, by the artist Murata Yoshikoto. The print, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, depicts two figures, likely women, engaged in the labor-intensive process of tea harvesting. The scene showcases the tea bushes and the baskets used to collect the leaves, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of tea production in Japan. The print's detailed portrayal of figures and environment is characteristic of ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art renowned for its vivid depictions of daily life and popular culture.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The Japanese begin to harvest tea in early summer. Shincha, the first tea of the season, is made by using only the fresh yaoung leaves. It is highly prized for its delicate, fresh flavor and bright green color. Harvesters must carefully pluck the tender buds without damaging them. Consequently, this work is traditionally done by women whose gentle touch and small hands are more adept at this painstaking process. Here, Kagen depicts two tea pickers to accompany poems about summer. Dressed appropriately for the task, they wear indigo-dyed or simple striped kimonos and arm covers to protect their forearms from scratches. The bright red cords that bind their wide sleeves and the sash worn by one of the women contrasts beautifully with their plain outfits.