Artwork
Inari-ko|The Second Month
Inari-ko|The Second Month is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Ishikawa Toyomasa. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Inari‑ko | The Second Month is a Japanese woodblock print executed around 1767 by the ukiyo‑e artist Ishikawa Toyomasa. The image is rendered in ink and color on paper and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its composition captures a fleeting, tumultuous episode that suggests a theatrical or narrative source.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts four figures locked in a chaotic struggle. A man in a red garment lies on the ground, another in a striped costume kneels atop a drum, while two opponents surge toward one another. Behind them a vivid red torii gate, a banner bearing Japanese characters, and a river boat provide a contextual backdrop, hinting at a festive or ritual setting.
Technique & Style
Toyomasa employs the characteristic ukiyo‑e approach of bold, flat colors contrasted with defined outlines. Simple geometric shapes convey movement, while areas of cross‑hatching suggest shading and depth. The use of a limited palette and strong compositional lines enhances the sense of immediacy and drama typical of mid‑eighteenth‑century Japanese prints.
History & Provenance
Created in the late Edo period, the print has survived in good condition and entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its attribution to Ishikawa Toyomasa, an active printmaker of the 1760s, is supported by stylistic analysis and contemporary records of his workshop’s output.
Artist & collection
