JAPANESE PRINTS
A MILLION QUESTIONS
TWO MILLION MYSTERIES
Ukiyo-e Prints浮世絵版画 |
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Port Townsend, Washington |
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UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI I |
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歌川豊国 |
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うたがわとよくに |
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1769-1825 |
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Subject: Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右もん) pulling a painting of himself out of a lidded jar |
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Actor: Matsumoto Kōshirō V (1764-1838) |
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(五世)松本幸四郎 |
| (ごせ)まつもと.こうしろう |
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Signed: Toyokuni ga |
| 署名: 豊国画 |
| しょめい: とよくにが |
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Date: Ca. 1815 |
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Size: 15" x 10" |
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Publisher: Shimizu |
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清水 |
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しみず |
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Condition: Good color, horizontal center fold, some soiling mainly around the edges and small repaired wormholes. |
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$520.00 |
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Note that this print has no censor's seal. |
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REMEMBRANCEOF THINGS TO COME |
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I purchased this print because it appealed to me on several levels: early Toyokunis can be very attractive; the colors are particularly strong; and this image is especially evocative. Why? Because in the legendary lore Ishikawa Goemon is boiled alive in the end. That is why it is so interesting that the actor portraying this character is pulling an image of Goemon out of a container which is meant to boil water. Is he prescient? It would seem so.
Most likely this is a scene from one of the many plays devoted to this figure. However, up to now I haven't found the exact reference. |
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OTHER GOEMON EXAMPLES SHOWN ON THIS SITE
The images below are by Toyokuni III the pupil of Toyokuni I. To see the full pages dedicated to them click on each of them. |
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THE FINEST KABUKI SITE ON THE INTERNET!
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TO SEE A FULL BIOGRAPHY AND LINKS TO NUMEROUS PAGES WITH OTHER IMAGES OF MATSUMOTO KŌSHIRŌ V GO TO
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