Viewing votive paintings
- Date:
- c. 1800
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print; nagaban, surimono
- Format:
- Nagaban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
Worshippers approach or examine ema — votive paintings on wooden plaques offered at shrines and temples to petition for divine favor — in this nagaban surimono from around 1800. The ritual of viewing and leaving ema was a form of devotional participation accessible to all Edo residents regardless of education, the painted horses, ships, and human figures condensing prayers into portable visual form.
More Prints by Katsushika Hokusai
Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks)
19th century
Woodblock-printed book; ink and light color on paper
Fukuroi
1804
Japanese woodblock print
The Fishermen of Katase Hauling in Their Nets: The Purple Shell (Murasakigai)
1821
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban
Burdock Root (Kurama gobo), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"
1822
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
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Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Viewing votive paintings was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) in c. 1800.
Viewing votive paintings depicts figures, temples & shrines, and religious.