Who painted Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e)?

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) was painted by Sakai Hōitsu in 1797-01-01.

Where can I see Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e)?

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e)?

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Can I buy a print of Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e)?

Museum-quality prints of Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e)

Sakai Hōitsu , 1799

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Sakai Hōitsu. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, within its holdings of Japanese Edo-period painting.

Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e) was painted in 1799 in Japan by the artist Sakai Hōitsu. It forms part of a series depicting seasonal activities, though specific commissioning details are not recorded. The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, within its holdings of Japanese Edo-period painting. The available records do not disclose a specific accession number or a documented exhibition history.

Legacy

Sakai Hōitsu's Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e), created in 1799, reflects the Edo-period Rinpa aesthetic that Hōitsu helped revive. Its seasonal motifs and cyclical structure are characteristic of the Rinpa school's synthesis of nature and design. The work's presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection has contributed to its reputation as an example of Hōitsu's revivalist approach to the Rinpa tradition, which bridged classical techniques with his own compositions.

Overview

This painting, titled Activities of the Twelve Months (Tsukinami-e), was created by Sakai Hōitsu in 1799. The work is part of a larger tradition depicting seasonal customs and daily life throughout the year. It is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The scene features multiple figures engaged in various quiet pursuits, set against a backdrop suggesting a specific environment or event.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents several individuals, some cloaked in black robes, with one figure distinguished by a red garment. They are arranged dynamically, with both standing and seated postures, suggesting a moment captured in time. In the background, a large, curved structure, possibly a boat or a building's roof, frames the scene.

A smaller figure is depicted tending a fire, contributing to the sense of ongoing activity and daily ritual within an atmosphere of contemplation.