A Game of Hand Sumo in the New Yoshiwara - Furuyama Moromasa

A detailed Ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting a social gathering and a game of hand sumo within the Yoshiwara pleasure district.

This woodblock print by Furuyama Moromasa depicts a scene within the Yoshiwara pleasure district, specifically focusing on a social gathering involving a game of hand sumo. The composition employs a multi-perspective approach, common in early eighteenth-century Japanese prints, which allows the viewer to observe both the interior activities and the exterior garden space simultaneously. The architectural elements, such as the sliding screens and the tatami mat flooring, provide a structured framework for the figures.

The artist uses a clear, linear style to define the participants. Each figure is engaged in distinct social interactions, from the central group playing the hand game to those resting or observing in the background. The use of colour is restrained, relying on a palette of soft yellows, muted reds, and ink-black lines to delineate form and pattern. The clothing of the figures, featuring various geometric and floral motifs, reflects the fashion of the period.

Moromasa, a follower of the Hishikawa school, captures the atmosphere of the Yoshiwara as a space of leisure and refined social play. The print serves as a record of the customs and interior design of the era. The inclusion of a folding screen with a bamboo motif adds a layer of depth to the room, while the open veranda connects the interior to the outside world. This work is an example of the early development of the Ukiyo-e genre, where the focus shifted towards documenting the daily lives and pastimes of urban residents. The print retains its original character, showing the technical limitations and aesthetic choices of the early woodblock printing process in Japan.