Title : Frontispiece

Artist : Fujikawa Tamenobu

Date : 1918

Details : More information...

Source : Japanese Art Open Database
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Description : Wednesday, 26 January 2005 Shanks' Mare Tokaido Series: Frontispiece Artist: Tamenobu Fujikawa Format: Oban yoko-e: 9.5" x 14" approx Subject: The two heroes of 'Shanks' Mare Tokaido' (Tokaido Hizakurige by Jippensha Ikku, here depicted by Tamenobu in twin mirror cartouches; their names were Yajirobe and Kitahachi. The author Ikku was a popular comic writer of the Tokugawa period (19th century) and this was the first 'translation' of the two scoundrel adventures on the Tokaido highway into Ukiyo-e. Viewers must bear in mind that in this set Yajirobe always wears a blue coat while his partner in crime, Kitahachi, wears clothes with cross-hatched stripes. Distances of their travels are calculated in ri and cho the former is equal to about 2.5 miles, the latter is about one thirty-sixth of one ri. Date: October 1918 Condition: As issued, full size and retaining original Japanese album backing paper. Paper very slightly toned. Minor marks and flaws. Generally very good state of preservation. Colour: Fine Impression: Very fine early impression with bokashi and gauffrage.

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