{"product_id":"fireworks-at-ikenohata-kobayashi-kiyochika","title":"Fireworks at Ikenohata - Kobayashi Kiyochika","description":"\u003cp\u003eA atmospheric woodblock print by Kobayashi Kiyochika depicting a night scene at Ikenohata, featuring silhouetted spectators and glowing fireworks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eKobayashi Kiyochika produced this woodblock print in 1880, capturing a summer evening scene at Ikenohata near Shinobazu Pond in Tokyo. The composition demonstrates the artist's interest in light and atmosphere, a departure from the traditional flat colour blocks of earlier Ukiyo-e masters. Kiyochika utilised the technique of kosen-ga, or light-ray pictures, to render the subtle interplay between the darkness of the night sky and the artificial illumination provided by paper lanterns and pyrotechnics.\n\nThe foreground features a crowd of spectators rendered as dark silhouettes, their forms obscured by the lack of direct light. This choice directs the viewer's attention toward the middle ground, where figures climb a wooden structure to gain a better vantage point. The fireworks themselves are depicted with soft, vertical trails of light that reflect onto the surface of the water below. The horizontal line of lanterns creates a rhythmic division across the composition, separating the dark sky from the murky depths of the pond.\n\nKiyochika was active during the Meiji period, a time of rapid modernisation in Japan. His work often reflects the changing urban environment of Tokyo, incorporating Western-influenced perspective and shading. By focusing on the ephemeral nature of light, he moved away from the rigid outlines that defined the genre for centuries. This print captures a specific moment of public leisure, documenting the social habits of the era while maintaining a focus on the atmospheric conditions of the night. The muted palette of deep blues and greys allows the warm tones of the fireworks and lanterns to emerge, creating a sense of depth and quiet observation. This work remains a representative example of how traditional printmaking adapted to accommodate new visual interests during the late nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/women-near-a-river-utagawa-kuniyoshi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eWomen Near a River - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nissaka-travellers-on-a-steep-path-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNissaka: Travellers on a Steep Path - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kobayashi Kiyochika","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58061202522447,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58062655357263,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58062655390031,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58062655422799,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58062655455567,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Fireworks-at-Ikenohata_Poster_CompositorV1_1782522020550.jpg?v=1782522773","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/fireworks-at-ikenohata-kobayashi-kiyochika","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}