浅草観音境内ニ於イテ興行仕候 佛蘭西曲馬|French Equestrian Circus on the grounds of Asakusa Kannon temple (Asakusa kannon keidai ni oite kōgyō tsukawashi sōrō-Furansu kyokuba)
1871
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1871
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows a wild scene of people riding horses in a chaotic circus. Horses kick up their legs, riders fly through the air, and acrobats flip mid-jump. Bright colors pop against a green background—reds, yellows, and blues make the action stand out. One odd detail: a man in the right panel holds a wheel with ropes, like a game or trick. The mix of horses, people, and stunts suggests this was a spectacle meant to shock and amaze crowds. Look up circus next to see how these performances worked in the 1800s.
