There is an
interesting point about this series
which I just noticed -
there are no censor
seals on any of the
prints from this group
- including the
ones published in
Heroes and Ghosts:
Japanese Prints by
Kuniyoshi 1797-1861.
Hopefully someone out
there in the ether
can help us to explain
this conundrum.
Perhaps there is a
simple answer
which I am missing.
It is common
practice not to put date or censor seals on death memorial prints, shunga or
surimono, but the print featured on this page in not in any of those
categories. While I have seen prints without publisher seals or any other
identifying marks such as signatures, etc., I have never noticed another
series of such quality as this one that lacks any seals which would indicate
the approximate dates. The dating was probably established on stylistic
grounds and the established period when this particular signature was used
by Kuniyoshi. |