Spread from Toto Saijiki 東都祭事記 (Record of Annual Events in the Eastern Capital): Fair at the Time of the Bon Festival

Spread from Toto Saijiki 東都祭事記 (Record of Annual Events in the Eastern Capital): Fair at the Time of the Bon Festival

Hasegawa Settan
Edo, Japan (1778 - 1843)

1838

woodblock print

print

Settan's early book illustrations evidence an influence from his masters, the literati painters Tani Buncho and Sakai Hoitsu. However, in his finest work, Settan depends more on Hokusai's style of the Kyowa period to render figures and perspectives. A favorite theme for book illustrations was a chronicle of the past year's events, which Settan used in the 1838 publication "A Narration of the Year's events in the Capital" written by Saito Yukinarai. With the development of the landscape print at its height during Tempo and Kokwa, Settan was able to contribute to his designs the essence of its refinement.