Winter: Storing Rice (Fuyu: kome osame no zu), No. 4 from the series "The Four Seasons of Farmers (Shiki no hyakusho)"

Art Historical Context

**Winter: Storing Rice (uyu: kome osame no zu)**, created by Torii Kiyomas II around the 1730s, is the fourth print in the captivating series *The Four Seasons of Farmers (Shiki no hyakusho)*. This hand-colored woodblock print captures poignant winter scene of rural Japanese life, where farmers diligently store rice—a vital staple—highlighting the rhythm of agrarian labor in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868). Kiyomasu II, from the esteemed Torii school known for vibrant ukiyo-e prints, shifts focus from urban Kabuki actors to everyday countryside folk, offering a rare glimpse into peasant resilience amid seasonal hardships. Printed in the narrow *hosoban* format (30.8 × 13.1 cm), this *urushi-e* (lacquer print) employs glossy, lacquer-like pigments for a luminous, jewel-toned effect that enhances the wintry chill and warm lantern glows. Hand-coloring added vivid realism, a technique that made these affordable prints popular among commoners during the Genroku era's cultural boom. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this work underscores woodblock printing's role in democratizing art, preserving cultural narratives of sustainability and community. It invites visitors to appreciate how such intimate scenes bridged urban audiences with rural traditions, evoking timeless admiration for Japan's harmonious bond with nature.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763

At one point this artist was incorrectly identified as Kiyonobu II.