Posted 12 years ago
rocker-sd
(119 items)
This is a set of three Japanese Woodblock prints I picked up at a auction last week. I believe the signature is Utamaro, and the publisher is Murataya Jirobei. The format seems to be oban. I have gleaned this information from hours on the internet.
I haven't been able to translate the titles or date them. Any tips on furthe reseacrch would be appreciated. Thanks for looking!
It is the Utamaro signature. I'll have a look around today and see if I can find the references later this morning.
Have you seen this page?
http://www.roningallery.com/education/
Another resource on the net is:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/22219182/The-Complete-Woodblock-Prints-of-Kitagawa-Utamaro-A-Descriptive-Catalogue
The first one is from the series: "Shichi-go-san kodakara awase" and the Japanese title of this image is "Hakama-e-no-zu" or "His First Pantaloons." The Brooklyn museum has a copy in full colour. They describe it as "Dressing a Boy on the Occasion of His First Letting His Hair Grow" ca. 1795.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shichi-Go-San
As a school teacher there's a smile I my face when I write that the Japanese see children as "kodokara" - little treasures. Utamaro also did a series called "Furyu Kodakara awase" but I can't find the third one yet. The words Utamaro and Kodokara might be fruitful google search.
The third might be from "Kodakara Tatoe no Fushi" At least he is not being whipped as in this one:
http://project.lib.keio.ac.jp/dg_kul/ukiyoe_artist_detail.php?id=13401
The Brooklyn museum has a fine collection:
http://www.mfa.org/search/collections?artist=Kitagawa%20Utamaro%20I&page=2&rows=64
I've just had a look at the title on each one a bit more carefully. My Japanese is no where, but I do know that they all three begin the same first six characters at least. I do recognise them as being numbers too! They all begin with Shichi-go-san the characters of the numbers 7, 5 & 3. That makes me think that they are all from the se series: "Shichi-go-san kodakara awase" .
That's as far as I have gotten so far.
vetraio50, Thank You once again! You have provided me with so many leads to follow. I never thought these three simple prints could lead me on such a chase. I am certainly gaining quite a appreciation for Japanese Woodblocks and your exstensive knowledge too!
Thanks BELLIN68, toolate2, MattyG, bratjdd, and kerry10456 for the love.
Thanks, ozmarty, miKKo, inky, Phil, Sean68, & Radegunder for all the love.