Japanese Prints: From Early Masters to the Modern by James A. Michener

Author:James A. Michener [Michener, James A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781462903900
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Published: 2013-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

The Notes

Hishikawa Moronobu

Hishikawa Moronobu (d. 1694). The first great consolidator of the ukiyo-e style worked from the early 1670’s to shortly before his death in 1694, His dynamic early work is seen in No. 12, the supple power of his peak years in No. 11, and the graceful style of his last years in No, 257.

11. LOVERS WITH ATTENDANT. Early 1680’s. At the right, the lover reclines upon the bedding, his elbow on an armrest. Before him sits his paramour, probably a courtesan. Above them is mosquito-netting, indicating the season is summer. At the left, the courtesan’s attendant. Such prints were usually frontispieces to erotic series. Unsigned. Condition good (two ink stains, horizontal creasing, backed). From Chandler, 1910. Sumizuri-e. 29.9 X 35.1.

12. GROUPS OF TRAVELERS. Mid-1670’s. At the right, a samurai with his two servants and baggage, possibly on a journey. To the left, going in the opposite direction, a group of five ladies with their servants. The latter group is doubtless returning from cherry-blossom viewing, for one of the ladies bears a branch of cherry blossoms and the servants carry picnic utensils. Unsigned. Condition fair (tears in margin, stains, scuffing, backed). From Kegan Paul. Sumizuri-e, with late handcoloring. 28.3 X 42.3.

257. STROLL BY THE BAY (detail). 1695. A lady takes 2 summer stroll beside a bay. In the original her maidservant follows with a fan and above the illustration appears the biography of the poetess Ise, with the famous love verse that the design illustrates: “Bay of Naniwa: must I spend my life without meeting him, even for an interval as brief as these reed-nodes;” Detail from an illustration appearing in Vol. I of The Hundred Poets Illustrated, Edo, IV/1695. This book records the death of Moronobu in its preface and, like several of Moronobu’s signed works of the 1690’s, shows evidence of having been redrawn for publication, most probably by the master’s son Morofusa. Condition poor (smudged, trimmed, corner damaged). From Metzgar, Gookin, Ficke. Sumizuri-e. Detail from book page measuring 19.3 X 14.3.

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