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Japan n.d. ca. 1798. A hand-scroll, exceptionally clean and bright, 30 x 340 cm. long in all, 6 fine hand drawn & color- ed views, each 37 x 27 cm. preliminary portion protected by a 29 cm. long striped cloth covers, white bone ends. R A R E *** *** *** . . . SUPERB MANUSCRIPT DRAWINGS BY THE GREAT MASTER . . Utamaro [1754-1806] was influenced by Kitao Masanogu & Torii Kiyonaga. A famous painter and illustrator, who was imprisoned in 1804 for violating the Shogunate's ban on the publishing of erotic prints. . *** He was one of the first Japanese artists to be known in Europe and had considerable influence on Western artists like Toulouse-Lautrec. In 1788 two of his most important works appeared: MUSHI ERABI [INSECT BOOK] and his erotic classic: UTA MAKURA [PILLOW OF POEMS]. . *** This hand scroll is an elegant work showing the grace and refinement of Japanese women, even in erotic art. While most other Japanese erotic works depict women as common harlots, Utamaro was known for his distinctive, attractive and elegant style of portraying features generally small, and the figures tall and graceful in all of his painting & prints. . *** THE WORK OF UTAMARO I: The hand-scroll consists of suite six erotic paintings, each is about 37 x 26.5 cm., and mounted on a stiff white paper backing, with nice carved bone ends, internal gilt paper at the beginning, and a silk tie. The exterior beginning portion is done with a striped cloth, the whole mounting is relatively recent, probably done in the 1960's, . Each painting is done in black Sumi brush outline, with light pink or red pastel colors for accent on the lips, tongue, genitals & flowing inner Kimono. As usual this is not signed, since erotic works were banned by the Shogunate and Utamaro already spent jail time. It clearly Utamaro's style, thus the later title is shown with his name. Surely done by a fine & steady hand, the work reflects the details and skill of Utamaro. It must be done before 1804, the date he was imprisoned for allowing an erotic woodblock triptych he did. . *** UTAMARO II: We have ruled out the work being painted by his disciple, Utamaro II, who is listed in Roberts [see below], in words: ".a minor figure, feebly imitating the great master" see p.193. . *** This work is a strong and solid group of his stunning painti gs. . *** REFERENCES: STEWART, Basil. JAPANESE COLOUR-PRINTS AND THE SUBJECTS THEY ILLUSTRATE: A Guide for the Collector & Student with Description of the Subjects Illustrated in Landscape, Drama, Story and Portraiture. * VON SEIDLITZ, W. A HISTORY OF JAPANESE COLOUR-PRINTS. * LANE, Richard. IMAGES FROM THE FLOATING WORLD: THE JAPANESE PRINT, INCLUDING AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF UKIYO-E: Utamaro entries on pp.21, 124,127, 135-41, 341-346. * [ISHII, Kendon.] NISHIKI-E NO ARATAME-IN NO KOH-SHOH: READINGS OF CENSOR'S SEALS ON JAPANESE PRINTS * ROBERTS, Laurance P. A DICTIONARY OF JAPANESE ARTISTS PAINTING, SCULPTURE, CERAMICS, PRINTS, LACQUER: p.193. * KOBAYASHI, Tadashi. UTAMARO. *.
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