Warrior with a Hobby Horse, Year of the Horse, Utagawa Toyohiro, 1822
nishikie, with metallic pigments, h 193mm × w 534mm Catalogue entry
In the lunar calendar, New Year falls slightly later in the year than in the Western world. That is why you often see cherry blossoms in New Year’s surimono. This actor, dressed up as the heroic warrior Ashina Saburo, grasps a hobby horse, a clear reference to the Year of the Horse. Cherry blossoms decorate his kimono and fill the background. Metal pigment was applied to the swords.
