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.
- Accession no.
- 1940.1045
- Credit line
- Bequest of James Parmelee
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…


















