Lot Essay
Sugawara Shakuyakutei (1767-1845), whose poems appear on two of the designs in this series, was the leader of the Shakuyokugawa ren, he was the author of the preface of Vol. 12 of Hokusai's Manga
Details
SHIGENOBU II: kakuban surimono; a set of eight surimono, each entitled Hana awase "An array of flowers", each signed Yanagawa Shigenobu and sealed Yanagawa:
The prints were designed for the poetry circle headed by Shakuyakutei Nagane (1767-1845), the most influential kyoka master in Edo during the 1830s. The title of each print is composed of a poetic word or expression including the word hana, "flower", a traditional metaphor for a beautiful woman.
1: (21.5 x 18.8cm.); Takane no hana "Flowers on the peak", a metaphor for something seen but unobtainable, illustrating two beauties, one holding a folding fan, with poems by Kuramaan Sansui, Shinshu Wakasha Uramichi and Shosai Tsuruo--good impression and color, very slightly stained
2: (20 x 18.4cm.); Kotoba no hana "Flowers of words", an ancient expression meaning waka, or Japanese poetry, illustrating a woman reading a book, with poems by Shochikuen, Kirakuan Mitsumaro and Shakuyakutei--good impression, color and condition
3: (21 x 18.6cm.); Mono iwanu hana "Silent flowers", since mono iu hana, "talking flowers", is a common poetic expression for beautiful women, "silent flowers" refers to actual flowers in their natural state, illustrating a woman tying her sash behind a fence, with poems by Kakuyushi Kamemaru, Kototei Otone and Kayuen Chobun--good impression and color, slightly foxed, otherwise good condition
4: (21.4 x 19.1cm.); Te-ike no hana "Hand-picked flower", a term used to refer to a geisha or courtesan who has become the wife or mistress of the patron who bought out her contract with a bordello, illustrating a woman tuning a samisen, with poems by Rakuyoan, Ryueishi and Buwaian Futaki--very good impression and color, very slightly stained
5: (21.6 x 18.8cm.); Kokoro no hana "Flowers of the heart", a poetic expression likening ever-changing human emotions to easily scattered flower blossoms, illustrating a mother and her daughter watching a bird released from its cage, with poems by Shinshu Kogetsutei Soyu, Goshintei Mizaru and Rikkaen--good impression and color, very slightly finger-soiled
6: (21 x 18.4cm.); Miyako no hana "Flower of the capital", a term used to refer to famous actors, courtesans or celebrities, illustrating a courtesan standing by a potted pine, with poems by Shikishima Edamichi, Kagenro and Chokintei Seiki--good impression and color, some stains
7: (20.7 x 18.4cm.); Nushi aru hana "Flower with an owner", or a young woman with a steady lover or patron, illustrating a lady holding a helmet, with poems by Kakumu Yamamori, Ryuhosha Kiyokaze and Makinoya Ototaka--good impression and color, slightly foxed
8: (21 x 18.6cm.); Udonge "Udumbara flower", a flower with Buddhist associations, said to bloom only once in a thousand years: the proverb udonge wa ogande ta-oru "Pray to the udumbara, then break off its blossom with your hands" means to make the most of an advantageous situation and the phrase is found in Chapter 9 of the revenge tale Soga monogatari, which is the inspiration for the scene here, with poems poems by Choshintei, Katsuratei and Shakuyakutei--good impression and color
(8)
The prints were designed for the poetry circle headed by Shakuyakutei Nagane (1767-1845), the most influential kyoka master in Edo during the 1830s. The title of each print is composed of a poetic word or expression including the word hana, "flower", a traditional metaphor for a beautiful woman.
1: (21.5 x 18.8cm.); Takane no hana "Flowers on the peak", a metaphor for something seen but unobtainable, illustrating two beauties, one holding a folding fan, with poems by Kuramaan Sansui, Shinshu Wakasha Uramichi and Shosai Tsuruo--good impression and color, very slightly stained
2: (20 x 18.4cm.); Kotoba no hana "Flowers of words", an ancient expression meaning waka, or Japanese poetry, illustrating a woman reading a book, with poems by Shochikuen, Kirakuan Mitsumaro and Shakuyakutei--good impression, color and condition
3: (21 x 18.6cm.); Mono iwanu hana "Silent flowers", since mono iu hana, "talking flowers", is a common poetic expression for beautiful women, "silent flowers" refers to actual flowers in their natural state, illustrating a woman tying her sash behind a fence, with poems by Kakuyushi Kamemaru, Kototei Otone and Kayuen Chobun--good impression and color, slightly foxed, otherwise good condition
4: (21.4 x 19.1cm.); Te-ike no hana "Hand-picked flower", a term used to refer to a geisha or courtesan who has become the wife or mistress of the patron who bought out her contract with a bordello, illustrating a woman tuning a samisen, with poems by Rakuyoan, Ryueishi and Buwaian Futaki--very good impression and color, very slightly stained
5: (21.6 x 18.8cm.); Kokoro no hana "Flowers of the heart", a poetic expression likening ever-changing human emotions to easily scattered flower blossoms, illustrating a mother and her daughter watching a bird released from its cage, with poems by Shinshu Kogetsutei Soyu, Goshintei Mizaru and Rikkaen--good impression and color, very slightly finger-soiled
6: (21 x 18.4cm.); Miyako no hana "Flower of the capital", a term used to refer to famous actors, courtesans or celebrities, illustrating a courtesan standing by a potted pine, with poems by Shikishima Edamichi, Kagenro and Chokintei Seiki--good impression and color, some stains
7: (20.7 x 18.4cm.); Nushi aru hana "Flower with an owner", or a young woman with a steady lover or patron, illustrating a lady holding a helmet, with poems by Kakumu Yamamori, Ryuhosha Kiyokaze and Makinoya Ototaka--good impression and color, slightly foxed
8: (21 x 18.6cm.); Udonge "Udumbara flower", a flower with Buddhist associations, said to bloom only once in a thousand years: the proverb udonge wa ogande ta-oru "Pray to the udumbara, then break off its blossom with your hands" means to make the most of an advantageous situation and the phrase is found in Chapter 9 of the revenge tale Soga monogatari, which is the inspiration for the scene here, with poems poems by Choshintei, Katsuratei and Shakuyakutei--good impression and color
(8)