Collections Database

Description:
ōban tate-e; nishiki-e; omocha-e

Label Text:
In this example of an omocha-e, or “toy picture,” which was designed and published by Arita Jirō, animals move and pose in a fantastical and exciting manner. The artist has exaggerated their colors and features. The mountain cat (a kind of leopard from the Japanese island of Iriomote) at upper left, for example, is almost golden in color, its tail enlarged to show its characteristic center stripe, while the elephant is white, an auspicious and sacred Buddhist symbol. The scarcity of intact omocha-e points to the wide influence of woodblock prints in Japanese society. Not precious objects to be preserved, these works were meant to educate and delight young children, who often cut them up for play.
- BB, ed., 2015

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2005.868

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.