Woman Playing a New Year's Game of Battledore and Shuttlecock

Art Historical Context

This delightful hanging scroll from 18th-century Japan captures joyful moment of a woman engrossed in a New Year's game of battledore and shuttlecock—known as *hane-tsuki* in. Rendered in ink and light colors on paper, the intimate vertical format (30 5/8 x 10 1/4 in.) is typical of hanging scrolls, which were unrolled and displayed on special occasions like festivals, evoking a sense of seasonal celebration in domestic settings. Created during the Edo period (5–1868), a time of relative peace and booming urban culture in Japan, the artwork reflects everyday leisure amid prosperity. New Year's games like this one were popular rituals, believed to bring good fortune and ward off misfortune by batting away feathered shuttlecocks. The focus on a woman highlights glimpses of feminine pastimes, blending grace and playfulness in a society where such scenes offered escapism from rigid hierarchies. As a gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1945, this anonymous gem preserves Edo-era vibrancy, showcasing refined ink washes and subtle coloring that prioritize elegance and movement over realism. It's a window into Japan's festive spirit, inviting visitors to imagine the laughter echoing in a winter household.