A celebration of New Year traditions through Asano's characteristically vivid color sense, this print offers a window into seasonal Japanese customs. Genre and holiday subjects form a small fraction of his catalog, lending them modest scarcity. Typically available for $200-$500, it pairs well with his landscape views for a rounded collection.
New Year's Day in Japan is the most important of all traditional observances — the beginning of a fresh cycle, marked by family gatherings, shrine visits, special foods, and the wearing of new or best clothing. Asano's depiction of this celebration likely shows a domestic or public scene of New Year's observance, capturing the particular combination of formality and festivity that characterizes the holiday. His Kyoto upbringing would have given him intimate knowledge of the seasonal observances he depicted, from the shrine visits of hatsumode to the traditional New Year's games that enlivened the winter streets.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
New Year's Day was created by Takeji Asano (浅野竹二).
New Year's Day uses Bokashi, Nishiki-e, and Moku-hanga, on woodblock print.
New Year's Day was published by Unsodo.
New Year's Day depicts figures, temples & shrines, and daily life.
