K
Boys flying kites against an open sky makes for one of the most dynamic compositions in Shoun's Kodomo Asobi series. The New Year's tradition of kite flying gives this print seasonal significance. Pre-earthquake editions by Matsuki Heikichi typically sell for $1,500-$2,800. Shoun's children's subjects consistently outperform his bijin-ga at auction, with post-earthquake reprints at $500-$1,100.
Kite Flying (Takoage), printed around 1906, shows the traditional New Year activity of sending kites into winter skies. Japanese kites were often large, elaborately decorated with warrior faces, kabuki characters, or geometric patterns, making them works of art in their own right. Shoun's color woodblock captures the dynamic relationship between the kite flyer on the ground and the kite overhead, connected by a taut string that translates wind into tension felt in the hands. The upward orientation of the composition, figures looking skyward with necks craned, gives the print a lift that echoes the kite's own ascent.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Kite Flying (凧揚げ) was created by Yamamoto Shoun (山本昇雲) in c. 1906.
Kite Flying depicts children, winter, and daily life.
