| Notes (this edition)?: |
| The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies:
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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