Fan with Thistle — 薊図団

This oban woodblock print presents a decorative fan (uchiwa or sensu) adorned with a thistle motif, as indicated by the Japanese subtitle azami-zu dan. The thistle, with its spiky leaves and purple flower heads, is rendered in the simplified, bold style of Toyonari's non-theatrical work. Fan prints have a long history in Japanese art, serving as both functional designs and independent display pieces. Toyonari's treatment strips the botanical subject to its essential graphic elements, using strong outlines and limited color to create a design that works within the fan's curved format. The print reveals a side of Toyonari's practice that his kabuki portraits overshadow: a sensitivity to natural forms and an interest in decorative design that connects him to broader shin-hanga explorations of beauty beyond the theater.