Hanga

Children Prints (480)

Children (kodomo) in Japanese woodblock prints, depicted at play, in festivals, or in genre scenes of daily life. Child subjects appear across all periods, from Edo-era prints to modern sosaku-hanga compositions celebrating childhood innocence.

Artists Known for Children

The Poet Fun'ya no Yasuhide, from the series "Modern Children as the Six Immortal Poets (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

The Poet Fun'ya no Yasuhide, from the series "Modern Children as the Six Immortal Poets (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)"

c. 1804/05

Color woodblock print; oban

CHILDREN PLAYING by Kitagawa Utamaro

CHILDREN PLAYING

Ink on paper

A Mother and her Children by Suzuki Harunobu

A Mother and her Children

c. 1768

Color woodblock print; chuban

Ofuji, the Shop Girl of the Motoyanagiya, with a Customer by Suzuki Harunobu

Ofuji, the Shop Girl of the Motoyanagiya, with a Customer

c. 1769

Color woodblock print; chuban

Chinese Children Pulling a Cart with Flowers by Suzuki Harunobu

Chinese Children Pulling a Cart with Flowers

1765-1770

Print

Ōtomo no Kuronushi, from the series Modern Children as the Six Poetic Immortals (Tōsei kodomo rokkasen) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Ōtomo no Kuronushi, from the series Modern Children as the Six Poetic Immortals (Tōsei kodomo rokkasen)

c. 1804

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Aburaya Osome and the Shop Boy Hisamatsu by Kitagawa Utamaro

Aburaya Osome and the Shop Boy Hisamatsu

Edo period, circa 1800

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "hashira-e" format; ink and color on paper

GIRL KNEELING BEFORE MUSIC STAND by Kitagawa Utamaro

GIRL KNEELING BEFORE MUSIC STAND

Ink

Mother and Children Enjoying Fireflies by Kitagawa Utamaro

Mother and Children Enjoying Fireflies

18th-19th century

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

A Girl Dressing in Pink by Suzuki Harunobu

A Girl Dressing in Pink

1766

color woodblock print

Women and Children on the Causeway at Shinobazu Pond by Torii Kiyonaga

Women and Children on the Causeway at Shinobazu Pond

c. 1788

Color woodblock print; right sheet of oban triptych

The Tanabata Festival, from the from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)" by Torii Kiyonaga

The Tanabata Festival, from the from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)"

c. 1801

Color woodblock print; oban

The Poet Sojo Henjo, from the series "Modern Children as the Six Immortal Poets (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

The Poet Sojo Henjo, from the series "Modern Children as the Six Immortal Poets (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)"

c. 1804/05

Color woodblock print; oban

Mother Lifting a Child to a Plum Tree (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Mother Lifting a Child to a Plum Tree (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times)

late 1790s

color woodblock print

Bun'ya no Yasuhide from the series Modern Children as the Six Poetic Immortals (Tōsei kodomo rokkasen) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Bun'ya no Yasuhide from the series Modern Children as the Six Poetic Immortals (Tōsei kodomo rokkasen)

c. 1804 (Bunka 1)

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

No. 2: Chinese boys copying paintings and writing Japanese, from the series "Children Say 'This is Japan!' and Imitate the Games They See in Picturebooks (Yodo iu koitsu wa Nippon, ezoshi o mite yori sono gai ni asobu)" by Torii Kiyonaga

No. 2: Chinese boys copying paintings and writing Japanese, from the series "Children Say 'This is Japan!' and Imitate the Games They See in Picturebooks (Yodo iu koitsu wa Nippon, ezoshi o mite yori sono gai ni asobu)"

c. 1791

Color woodblock print; chuban

Women Watching a Girl Dance on Shells (From the series Fashionable Presentations of Three Horses) by Torii Kiyonaga

Women Watching a Girl Dance on Shells (From the series Fashionable Presentations of Three Horses)

1784

color woodblock print

Women and Children Walking Along the Sumida River by Katsushika Hokusai

Women and Children Walking Along the Sumida River

early 1800s

color woodblock print

Fun'ya no Yasuhide, from the series The Six Poets Represented by Modern Children (Tosei kodomo rokkasen) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Fun'ya no Yasuhide, from the series The Six Poets Represented by Modern Children (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)

Late Edo period, circa 1800-1806

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Utamaro hitsu"

Two Girls, one with a Mouse, one with a Cage by Kitagawa Utamaro

Two Girls, one with a Mouse, one with a Cage

17th-19th century

Ink and color on paper

Two Girls Leaving a Boat by Suzuki Harunobu

Two Girls Leaving a Boat

c. 1767/68

Color woodblock print; chuban

The New Year's Festival, from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)" by Torii Kiyonaga

The New Year's Festival, from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)"

c. 1801

Color woodblock print; oban

G

Great Hit! Said the Children, after Seeing Popular Picture Books, and They Imitate the Subjects for TheirPlay, Calligraphy, and Painting (Yodo iu koitsu wa Nippon, Ezoshi wo mite yori sono gwai wo asobu)

Beach Girl by Tsukioka Kōgyo

Beach Girl

Women by a Palanquin (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Women by a Palanquin (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times)

late 1790s

color woodblock print

Bunraku Puppetry from the series Competition of Precious Children Proud of their Arts, Among Seven Scrolls by Kitagawa Utamaro

Bunraku Puppetry from the series Competition of Precious Children Proud of their Arts, Among Seven Scrolls

1805

color woodblock print

Boy on Hobby Horse Followed by Woman Holding Umbrella by Suzuki Harunobu

Boy on Hobby Horse Followed by Woman Holding Umbrella

c. 1768/69

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Woman and Children by the Sea by Utagawa Hiroshige

Woman and Children by the Sea

ca. 1835

Print

Priest Huiyuan (Eon Hōshi), from the series Three Laughers at Children's Playful Spirits (Kokei ni sanshō) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Priest Huiyuan (Eon Hōshi), from the series Three Laughers at Children's Playful Spirits (Kokei ni sanshō)

c. 1802 (Kyōwa 2)

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Vulgar Girl (Gehin musume) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Vulgar Girl (Gehin musume)

Ink on paper

No. 4: Chinese boys playing a raffle game, from the series "Children Say 'This is Japan!' and Imitate the Games They See in Picturebooks (Yodo iu koitsu wa Nippon, ezoshi o mite yori sono gai ni asobu)" by Torii Kiyonaga

No. 4: Chinese boys playing a raffle game, from the series "Children Say 'This is Japan!' and Imitate the Games They See in Picturebooks (Yodo iu koitsu wa Nippon, ezoshi o mite yori sono gai ni asobu)"

c. 1791

Color woodblock print; chuban

Young girl and four attendants by Torii Kiyonaga

Young girl and four attendants

ca. 1784

Print

Fond of Children (Kodomo-zuki), from the series Eight Views of Favorite Things of Today (Tosei kobutsu hakkei) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Fond of Children (Kodomo-zuki), from the series Eight Views of Favorite Things of Today (Tosei kobutsu hakkei)

Late Edo period, circa 1801-1802

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Utamaro hitsu"

Painting, from the series Comparisons of the Artistic Pride of Precious Children (Gei jiman kodakara awase), One of Seven Lucky Treasures (shichifuku no uchi) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Painting, from the series Comparisons of the Artistic Pride of Precious Children (Gei jiman kodakara awase), One of Seven Lucky Treasures (shichifuku no uchi)

1806 (Bunka 3), 6th month

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Young Man and Boy Returning from Fishing by Suzuki Harunobu

Young Man and Boy Returning from Fishing

c. 1767/68

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Girl Playing with a Cat by Suzuki Harunobu

Girl Playing with a Cat

c. 1769/70

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Two Girls, from the series "Twelve Physiognomies of Beautiful Women Representing Views of Famous Places (Meisho fukei bijin juni so)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

Two Girls, from the series "Twelve Physiognomies of Beautiful Women Representing Views of Famous Places (Meisho fukei bijin juni so)"

c. 1803

Color woodblock print; oban

Ono no Komachi from the series The Six Poets Represented by Modern Children (Tosei kodomo rokkasen) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Ono no Komachi from the series The Six Poets Represented by Modern Children (Tosei kodomo rokkasen)

Late Edo period, circa 1800-1806

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Woman Playing Hand-Drum (Tsuzumi) for Two Dancing Children by Kitagawa Utamaro

Woman Playing Hand-Drum (Tsuzumi) for Two Dancing Children

19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Utamaro hitsu"

Chrysanthemum festival, from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)" by Torii Kiyonaga

Chrysanthemum festival, from the series "Precious Children's Games of the Five Festivals (Kodakara gosetsu asobi)"

c. 1801

Color woodblock print; oban

Jijo Hokun Onna Ima-gawa (Treasured Lessons of Young Girls) by Torii Kiyonaga

Jijo Hokun Onna Ima-gawa (Treasured Lessons of Young Girls)

Girl with Red Lips by Arishima Ikuma

Girl with Red Lips

赤い唇の少女

c. 1910-1930

Oil on canvas

Profile Head of a Japanese Girl by Robert Blum

Profile Head of a Japanese Girl

1879

Etching

Milking Girl by Yasuo Kuniyoshi

Milking Girl

乳しぼりの娘

1922-23

Oil on canvas

No. 147 (portrait of a girl) by Ikeda Shūzō

No. 147 (portrait of a girl)

c. 1957

Woodcut on Japanese hosho paper

Two Girls Catching Fireflies by Kawamata Tsunemasa

Two Girls Catching Fireflies

first half of the 18th century

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

No. 398 (Girl with Flower) by Ikeda Shūzō

No. 398 (Girl with Flower)

c. 1957

Woodcut on Japanese hosho paper

A Russian Girl by Aoyama Kumaji

A Russian Girl

ロシヤの少女

c. 1915

Oil on canvas

No. 401 (girl with bird on her shoulder) by Ikeda Shūzō

No. 401 (girl with bird on her shoulder)

1960

Woodcut on Japanese hosho paper

Shirabyōshi Dancer and Female Servant; Courtesan and Girl Attendant by Tsukioka Settei

Shirabyōshi Dancer and Female Servant; Courtesan and Girl Attendant

mid-18th century (1734–1766)

Hanging scroll paintings, remounted as a two-panel folding screen; ink, color, and gold on silk

A Girl by Matsumoto Shunsuke

A Girl

少女

1941

Pencil, Japanese ink, charcoal and conté on paper

Children and Fireworks (Summer) by Hasegawa Konobu (Sadanobu IV)

Children and Fireworks (Summer)

花火と子供たち

c. 1960

Color woodblock print

The Festival (Fall) by Hasegawa Konobu (Sadanobu IV)

The Festival (Fall)

祭り 秋

c. 1950s

Color woodblock print

Girl with a Doll by Shibata Shinsai

Girl with a Doll

1880-1890

Color woodcut on paper (octagonal album sheet, black line block with color blocks)

Girl of Bréhat by Kuroda Seiki

Girl of Bréhat

1891

Oil on canvas; 80.6 × 54.0 cm

The Hanetsuki (Spring) — Girls Playing Battledore by Hasegawa Konobu (Sadanobu IV)

The Hanetsuki (Spring) — Girls Playing Battledore

羽根突き 春

c. 1950s

Color woodblock print

The Fireworks (Summer) by Hasegawa Konobu (Sadanobu IV)

The Fireworks (Summer)

花火 夏

c. 1950s

Color woodblock print

Man Strolling with a Boy Carrying Flowering Branch by Kitagawa Fujimaro

Man Strolling with a Boy Carrying Flowering Branch

c. 1810

Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

Three Children by Hatsuyama Shigeru

Three Children

20th century

Color woodblock print, edition 8/14

Snowman (Winter) by Hasegawa Konobu (Sadanobu IV)

Snowman (Winter)

雪だるま

c. 1950s

Color woodblock print

Related Subjects

Frequently Asked Questions

Children (kodomo) in Japanese woodblock prints, depicted at play, in festivals, or in genre scenes of daily life. Child subjects appear across all periods, from Edo-era prints to modern sosaku-hanga compositions celebrating childhood innocence.

Kitagawa Utamaro, Jun'ichiro Sekino, and Kaoru Kawano are among the artists most associated with children in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.

Hanga currently catalogues 480 prints tagged with children, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.