Boys celebrating Children's Day (Tango no Sekku) with carp streamers makes this one of the most culturally resonant prints in Shoun's Kodomo Asobi series. The holiday association adds seasonal appeal for Japanese collectors. Pre-earthquake Matsuki Heikichi editions of this festive subject command $1,500-$3,000, while later reprints sell for $500-$1,200.
Children and Carp Streamer (Koinobori to kodomo), printed around 1906, shows young children with the large, colorful fish-shaped windsocks flown on Boys' Day, the fifth of May. Koinobori represent strength and perseverance, the carp being a fish that swims upstream against the current. Shoun's color woodblock captures the festive energy of children interacting with these billowing fabric fish, the streamers snapping in the wind above them. The scale contrast between small children and the large, wind-filled carp creates a composition full of movement and joy, the holiday spirit visible in the bright colors of both the streamers and the children's clothing.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Children and Carp Streamer (鯉のぼりと子供) was created by Yamamoto Shoun (山本昇雲) in c. 1906.
Children and Carp Streamer depicts fish, children, and animals.
