Young Boy Wearing Hakama for the First Time, from from the series "A Brocade of Eastern Manners (Fuzoku Azuma no nishiki)"

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japan, Torii Kiyonaga captures a tender milestone in *Young Boy Wearing Hakama the First Time*, from his series *A Brocade of Eastern Manners (Foku Azuma no niki)*, circa 1783–84. This color woodblock print depicts a young boy proudly donning hakama—traditional pleated trousers symbolizing maturity—for the first time, likely marking a rite of passage amid family celebration. Kiyonaga, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, excelled in genre scenes of everyday Edo life, blending graceful figures with subtle emotional depth during the genre's golden age. Printed in the large oban format (38.9 × 25.5 cm), this work showcases the ingenuity of woodblock techniques: intricate carving on multiple blocks for layered colors, from soft kimono hues to metallic accents evoking brocade fabrics. The series celebrates Eastern customs, offering a window into urban Japanese society under the Tokugawa shogunate, where such prints democratized art for commoners. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's cultural role in preserving fleeting moments of joy and tradition, influencing global art from Impressionism onward. A delightful glimpse into Japan's past! (198 words)

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815

Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...