Playing with the grasshoooper

In China there has been a long folk art tradition whereby auspicious prints such as this one were produced and sold in towns and villages all over the country as part of the home decorations for Lunar New Year celebration. Being local products, the style of these prints varied according to the district. In the Yangliuqing style, this print is from the market town of Dongfengtai in Tianjin, a municipality east of Beijing. This kind of prints were produced in surrounding villages and brought to Dongfengtai for sale.

Yangliuqing New Year prints started in late 14 century and were popular until late 19 century, but the production declined at the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Since 1950s, with the government's support and promotion, Yangliuqin New Year prints returned to their prosperity. However, in early 1980s, government price reforms increased the state subsidies for agricultural products and made agriculture a more lucrative source of income than the print-making which subsequently ceased.

Two boys are happily engaged in the game of playing with grasshopper, one of which is seen on top of a branch of grain. Grasshopper is seen as auspicious animal because of its strong fecundity.