鈴木春信画 あやとり|Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori)
1766
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1766
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Two women in flowing robes sit on a tatami mat, their fingers weaving strings in a quiet game. One wears a dark kimono with a checkered obi, the other a lighter one with red and white patterns. Behind them, a sliding door shows a horse scroll and a window with a starry night sky. A small table holds a tray and a vase with a single flower. The women’s focus on the strings suggests a moment of simple, shared focus—no grand gestures, just patience. This print was made using woodblock techniques, layering colors carefully. Next, look up technique: cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
