Who painted Young Man Playing Football?

Young Man Playing Football was painted by Suzuki Harunobu in 1764.

Where can I see Young Man Playing Football?

Young Man Playing Football is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Young Man Playing Football?

Young Man Playing Football is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Young Man Playing Football

Suzuki Harunobu , 1764

Young Man Playing Football is a print by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Young Man Playing Football is a woodblock print created by the Japanese artist Suzuki Harunobu around 1764. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, United States.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a youthful figure in the act of kicking a ball, his body twisted in a moment of motion. Dressed in a kimono and hakama, the figure’s focused expression conveys concentration and the vigor of play.

Technique & Style

Harunobu employed the ukiyo-e woodblock technique, using fine lines and subtle color washes to render the figure against a muted background. The composition emphasizes movement through the dynamic pose and the contrast between the bright foreground and the subdued backdrop.

Context

Produced in the mid‑eighteenth century, the print reflects the growing popularity of recreational activities such as football (kemari) in Edo‑period Japan, and illustrates how everyday pastimes were rendered as subjects worthy of artistic representation.