Mamagoto (Play house) Item Number: 795/15 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A print showing three children playing mamagoto (ままごと; play house) on a yellow blanket. The girl on the left holds a cup on a circular tray in both hands. She is wearing kimono that has red number sign pattern with yellow, green, and black shapes on a red background. The boy on the right side furthest behind is wearing kimono that has light blue dots on a dark blue background. The girl on the right in front is wearing kimono that has a white and blue pattern on a pink background. Both children on the right are facing toward the girl on the left. On the blanket there are three green leaves used as plates, a chopping block and knife, a little stove with a pot on top, a pink sweet on a light blue plate, a yellow and red sweet on green leaves, and a kendama (けん玉) toy. Three pairs of sandals are off to the sides. There is a tree trunk behind them; the background is light brown. The artist’s vertically rectangular, red seal appears in the lower right corner. The print is horizontally rectangular.

Narrative

This print is by Kiyohara Hitoshi (清原斉; 1896 - 1956) and entitled Mamagoto (ままごと; Play house). He published several children’s picture books in the 1930s–1950s in addition to producing nihonga (日本画) or “Japanese style-paintings.”

Item History

What

Name
Mamagoto (Play house)
Identification Number
795/15
Type of Item
print
Overall
height 33.3 cm, width 48.5 cm
Image
height 26.6 cm, width 39.5 cm

Who

Culture
Japanese
Creator
Hitoshi Kiyohara (Maker)
Previous Owner
Anne M. Smith
Received from
Anne M. Smith (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Japan

When

Creation Date
between 1950 and 1956
Ownership Date
before May 6, 1982
Acquisition Date
on May 6, 1982

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
good
Accession Number
0795/0015