Items Similar to Japanese Woodblock Print of Children at Play – Yamamoto Shōun, Meiji Era c. 1907
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Japanese Woodblock Print of Children at Play – Yamamoto Shōun, Meiji Era c. 1907
$284.83
£212.46
€240
CA$396.44
A$425.31
CHF 228.13
MX$5,120.62
NOK 2,875.78
SEK 2,622.32
DKK 1,828.98
About the Item
Title: Japanese Woodblock Print of Children at Play – Yamamoto Shōun, Meiji Era c. 1907
Description:
This charming Japanese woodblock print depicts children absorbed in lively play along a riverside setting and was designed by Yamamoto Shōun, one of the most refined artists of the late Meiji period. The scene comes from Shōun’s celebrated series Children’s Play (Kodomo Asobi), produced around 1906–1907, which captures everyday childhood games and seasonal customs in early modern Japan.
The composition shows several children engaged in jumping rope and playful interaction, rendered with warmth, humor, and keen observation. Shōun’s mastery lies in his ability to balance narrative detail with elegant restraint. Each figure is individually characterized through gesture, posture, and costume, while the calm river backdrop and distant boats provide a gentle sense of place. The result is a scene that feels both animated and serene, evoking nostalgia and timelessness.
Yamamoto Shōun (1870–1965) is best known for his bijin-ga (images of elegant women), but his work in the fuzoku-ga tradition—pictures of customs, manners, and daily life—is equally important. The Kodomo Asobi series is particularly admired for its sensitive portrayal of childhood during the Meiji era, a period marked by rapid modernization and social change. These prints preserve fleeting moments of ordinary life with exceptional charm and documentary value.
Printed using the traditional Japanese woodblock technique and delicately hand-colored, the palette remains soft and harmonious, with subtle blues, greys, and warm earth tones. Today, prints from this series are highly sought after for their decorative appeal and cultural significance, making them ideal for both collectors of Japanese art and interior designers seeking refined, narrative wall art.
Condition report:
Good condition for its age. Light age-related toning and scattered foxing, mostly visible in the margins. Colors remain attractive and well preserved.
Framing tips:
Best framed with a light, neutral mat and a natural wood or black frame. A simple presentation enhances the calm atmosphere and allows the scene to breathe, working equally well in modern and classic interiors.
Technique: Woodblock print
Maker: Yamamoto Shōun, Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1906–1907
- Dimensions:Height: 9.65 in (24.5 cm)Width: 14.38 in (36.5 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1907
- Condition:Good condition for its age. Light age-related toning and scattered foxing, mostly visible in the margins. Colors remain attractive and well preserved.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-14215-71stDibs: LU3054348176652
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
2,830 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllAntique Lithograph: Women and Child at Play – Meiji Era Japanese Family Scene
Located in Langweer, NL
This antique lithograph features a serene domestic scene, likely from the Meiji period, showing two Japanese women in traditional kimonos attending to a young child...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
$303 Sale Price
20% Off
Pl. 60 Antique Print of Japanese Scenes by Racinet,
circa 1880
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Japan - Japon - Japan'. Chromolithograph of Japanese scenes. This print originates from 'Le Costume Historique' by M.A. Racinet. Published, circa 1880.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
$94 Sale Price
20% Off
Japanese Folklore Print: Colorful Depiction of Traditional Oni Encounter, c.1882
Located in Langweer, NL
Title:
Japanese Folklore Print: A Colorful Depiction of a Traditional Oni Encounter
Description:
This striking Japanese print captures a vibrant and dynamic scene from folklore, whe...
Category
Antique 1880s Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Japanese Folklore Print: Six Mythical Scenes in Rich Color, 19th Century
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Japanese Folklore Print: Six Mythical Scenes in Rich Color, 19th Century
This captivating 19th-century Japanese print offers a vibrant tapestry of six distinct scenes from J...
Category
Antique 1880s Prints
Materials
Paper
Harmony and Abundance: Children Uniting for Prosperity in Mid-20th Century China
Located in Langweer, NL
The antique map titled 'With the Union of Hearts and Efforts, Happiness and Abundance are within our grasp' is a vintage woodcut created by Suzhou Taohuawu. It was published by Jiang...
Category
20th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
$655 Sale Price
20% Off
Free Shipping
Antique Print of Japanese Costumes,
circa 1880
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Japan - Japon - Japan'. Chromolithograph of Japanese Costumes. This print originates from 'Le Costume Historique' by M.A. Racinet. ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
$94 Sale Price
20% Off
You May Also Like
Original Japanese Woodblock Print of Playing Children by Katsukawa Shunsen 勝川春扇
By Katsukawa Shunsen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Original Japanese woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsen (Shunko II) (1762- circa 1830): five karako (Chinese boys) in traditional garments at play in a snow covered garden, making an ...
Category
Antique 1810s Japanese Prints
Materials
Paper
Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Yoshitora 一猛齋芳虎 (1836~1880)
Located in Norton, MA
Utagawa Yoshitora, ????? ( ????) was a designer of ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints and an illustrator of books and newspapers who was active from a...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Prints
Materials
Paper
Japanese Woodblock Print by Okumura Masanobu
奥村政信
Located in Norton, MA
Okumura Masanobu (????) (artist late 1680s - early 1760s)
Signed: Hogetsudo shomei Okumura Bunkaku Masanobu shohitsu
?????????????
Artist's seal: Tanchosai
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Okumura Masanobu (????) (artist late 1680s - early 1760s)
ALTERNATE NAMES:
Baio (go - ??)
Bunkaku (go - ??)
Chikatai (family name)
Gempachi (nickname - ??)
Genroku (nickname - ??)
Hogetsudo (go - ???)
Masanobu (go - ??)
Shidoken (go - ???)
Tanchosai (go - ???)
Okumura Shinmyo (family name - ????)
BIOGRAPHY:
Common name: Genpachi (Genpachiro); go Shinmyo (from 1707), Baio (from 1707), Hogetsudo (from Genbun era, 1736-41), Tanchosai and Bunkaku (both from Enkyo era [?], 1744-8). Ukiyo-e painter, print artist and innovative print publisher, also author and illustrator early in his career. Studied haikai poetry under Tachiba (Shogetsudo) Fukaku (Sen'o, 1662-1753). Said to have been influenced by the work of Moronobu. and Kiyonobu., and his earliest dated work is a copy of Kiyonobu I's Illustrated Book of Courtesans of 1700. published by Kurihara Choemon in the eighth month of 170a. From 1703 to 1711 he designed illustrations for at least 22 ukiyo-zoshi novels and puppet theatre playbooks, notably three works also written by him that parodied Tale of Genji. In the Hoei and Shotoku eras (1704-16) Masanobu designed o-oban prints of beautiful women, horizontal oban sumizuri-e 'parody pictures' (mitat-e) and actor prints...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Japanese Prints
Materials
Paper
Sanjûroku Kasen... - Woodcut by Mizuno Toshikata - 1893
By Mizuno Toshikata
Located in Roma, IT
Nishiki-e (woodcut print), in vertical oban format (31x20.5) realized by Mizuno Toshikata in 1893 (Meiji 26).
Belongs to the Series "Sanjûroku Kasen" (Thirty-Six Beauties in Compari...
Category
1890s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Woodcut
Lovely Japanese Blockprint Made by Kogyo Antique Meiji, 19th century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Interesting and finely painted Japanese painting. Marked Kogyo.
Additional information:
Material: Paper
Type: Paintings, Scrolls & Prints
Region of Origin: Japan
Period: ca 1900
Age...
Category
Antique 19th Century Japanese Prints
Materials
Paper
$398 Sale Price
20% Off
Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Yoshiika 落合芳幾
1833-1904
Located in Norton, MA
Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshiika 落合芳幾 (1833-1904), unframed.
About the artist
Yoshiiku was a popular ukiyo-e printmaker during the Meiji period. It is thought that he was the son of a tea house proprietor, hence his particular skill success in the portrayal of various beauties from teahouses and restaurants. Yet, he was an artist comfortable across subject matter and is recognized for his fierce portrayal of famous historical warriors. Yoshiiku was a student of Kuniyoshi and a contemporary rival of the famed Yoshitoshi. He signed his name Utagawa Yoshiiku...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Prints
Materials
Paper
