Artwork
円山応震筆 子供遊び図屏風|Children Playing in Summer and Winter
円山応震筆 子供遊び図屏風|Children Playing in Summer and Winter is an ink painting by the Rinpa school artist Maruyama Ōshin. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1819 by Maruyama Ōshin, this work consists of two six‑panel folding screens painted with ink, color and gold on paper. The pair is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and depicts a series of everyday leisure activities performed by children in both summer and winter settings.
Subject & Meaning
Each panel presents a distinct vignette of youthful play: children splash in shallow water, a small boat carries a young rower and a passenger, and other scenes show winter snow and a solitary tree. The recurring motif of happy, industrious youngsters conveys a gentle celebration of seasonal rhythms and the simple pleasures of childhood.
Technique & Style
Ōshin employs delicate brushwork to suggest movement, soft, undulating lines render water’s ripple, while fine cross‑hatching evokes falling snow. A restrained palette of blues, greens and muted golds creates a calm atmosphere, and the subtle use of gold leaf adds a luminous quality without overwhelming the composition.
History & Provenance
The screens were completed in the late Edo period and entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through a 20th‑century acquisition, though the precise path of ownership before that remains undocumented in public records.
Context
Genre scenes of everyday life were a hallmark of the Maruyama school, which emphasized realistic observation blended with decorative elegance. By portraying children at play, Ōshin aligns with contemporary interests in documenting ordinary moments, offering insight into the domestic culture of early 19th‑century Japan.
Artist & collection
