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Climbing Poles

Chihiro Iwasaki1970 - 1970

Chihiro Art Museum

Chihiro Art Museum
Tokyo, Japan

Could this be a school playground during recess? There’s a boy clearly climbing with ease, a girl wearing a look of determination grasping the pole with both hands and legs, and another boy who has discarded his shoes and is desperately hanging on. Looking at their movements and expressions, we can easily imagine each child’s personality and physical ability. According to her editor at the time, Chihiro offered commentary when while painting this illustration, saying, “This child is going to fall off,” and “This child is only hanging on by a thread.” This illustration was included in Elementary School Social Studies: Taro and Hanako, a textbook for first-grade elementary students. As its content was not subject to screening, it was a relatively freely produced supplementary reader aimed at helping students enjoyably learn about the local community. Chihiro was responsible for all of the illustrations that appeared in the book as well as the text, the layout, and even the printing, resulting in a work that was, in many respects, very much like one of her picture books.

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  • Title: Climbing Poles
  • Creator: Chihiro Iwasaki
  • Creator Lifespan: 1918 - 1974
  • Creator Nationality: Japanese
  • Creator Gender: Female
  • Creator Death Place: Tokyo
  • Creator Birth Place: Takefu
  • Date: 1970 - 1970
  • 画家名 (日本語): いわさきちひろ
  • 作品説明 (Japanese): 休み時間の校庭でしょうか。余裕しゃくしゃくの男の子、両手両足で棒をつかみ真剣な表情の女の子、靴をとばして必死にしがみつく子。体の動きや表情から、一人一人の性格や身体能力までが感じられます。担当編集者によると、ちひろは「この子は絶対おっこちるわよ」「この子ももう風前の灯よ」と語りながら描いていたそうです。この絵が収められた「しょうがくしゃかい たろうとはなこ」は、小学1年生の社会科の教科書。検定がなく、製作が比較的自由な副読本として、地域社会について楽しく学んでもらいたいと作られました。ちひろがすべての挿絵を担当し、文章やその配置、印刷にも気を配った、自作の絵本に近い作品です。
  • 作品名 (日本語): 「のぼり棒」
  • creator: Japan
  • Physical Dimensions: w445 x h310 mm (complete)
  • Type: painting
  • Rights: Copyright © 2013 Chihiro Iwasaki Memorial Foundation. All rights reserved.
Chihiro Art Museum

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