Screen and Miscellaneous New Year Presents 19th century

Ishikawa Kazan created this woodblock print, Screen and Miscellaneous New Year Presents, in Japan sometime in the early 19th century. The image depicts a screen reflecting a rising sun, a stack of gifts, and various other objects strewn across a red surface. This work offers a glimpse into the cultural practices of gift-giving during the New Year in Japan, reflecting the social norms of the time. The objects depicted suggest a culture of intricate rituals and hierarchical relationships, particularly expressed in the exchange of presents. Notice the care given to the presentation, indicative of the value placed on social harmony. As art historians, we consider the institutional context in which this print was created and circulated. Woodblock prints had a wide distribution, making them accessible to a broad audience. This print may reflect how the rising merchant class engaged with traditions usually reserved for the elite. Analyzing such artworks requires interdisciplinary research, drawing from historical texts, social studies, and material culture to better understand the complex interplay between art and society.