Traditional New Year picture - Rat's wedding (Vietnamese: Đám cưới chuột)

Southeast Asian Collection

Accession Nr.: 86.30.9
Type: woodblock print
Date of production:
second half of the 20th century
Place of production:
Materials/Techniques: paper, coloured woodblock print
Dimensions: height: 20. 4 cm
width: 33. 6 cm
This satirical woodcut, made in the Ðông Hồ workshop in Vietnam, is based on one of the most popular themes, the Rat's Wedding. In front of the large cat, representing the ruling class, a series of rats place their gifts (as made clear by the inscription 'gratitude money'. The happiness of the little man (as the inscription on the banner "happy wedding" suggests) always depends on the goodwill of those above him.