Artwork
Women Chasing Crickets on an Autumn Moor
Women Chasing Crickets on an Autumn Moor is a print by the Romanticist artist Chôbunsai Eishi. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Those birds, called chidori, show up every autumn and were a big deal in poems and paintings for centuries.
Two women in silk kimonos chase crickets through tall pink flowers. A servant follows, holding a fan. In the distance, old-time nobles do the same thing.
This was a real autumn game in Japan—catching crickets to hear their song. The woman on the left wears a kimono covered in tiny flying birds. Those birds, called chidori, show up every autumn and were a big deal in poems and paintings for centuries.
If you like this, look up *japan, edo period (1615–1868)*.
Overview
Women Chasing Crickets on an Autumn Moor is a print depicting a scene of leisure and recreation.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows two courtesans and a servant chasing crickets among autumn flowers, while noblemen in the background engage in the same activity. The scene represents a traditional Japanese autumn pastime, where crickets' songs were appreciated.
Technique & Style
The image features intricate kimono designs, such as the chidori pattern on the woman's garment, which reflects the artist's attention to detail.
Context
The artwork references a real autumn activity in Japan, where people caught crickets to enjoy their songs. The chidori motif on the kimono alludes to a long-standing cultural theme in Japanese art and poetry.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Chōbunsai Eishi (鳥文斎 栄之; 1756–1829) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist. His last name was Hosoda (細田). His first name was Tokitomi (時富). His common name was Taminosuke (民之丞) and later Yasaburo (弥三郎). Pupil of Kano Eisen'in…
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