Kites

Kites fill the sky in this 1912 color woodcut, a companion piece in spirit to Lum's "Boys and Kites" from the same year. Where that print focused on the flyers, this composition elevates the kites themselves — their forms, colors, and airborne movement — to primary subject status. Japanese kites (tako) were often elaborate constructions painted with warriors, mythological figures, or geometric patterns, and they served as both toys and ritual objects. Lum's decision to print the kites as the central motif reflects her eye for decorative pattern and her comfort with compositions that prioritize visual rhythm over narrative content. The color woodcut medium allows each kite's design to be rendered in distinct, layered hues, creating a patchwork of color against the open sky.